7th Annual Walk for Those Who can't March 23, 2013

Canines for Service annual fundraiser the Walk for Those Who Can’t will be held at Hugh MacRae Park in Wilmington, North Carolina on March 23, 2013 beginning with registration.  Teams and individuals can register and fundraise for the Walk For Those Who Can't online by visiting www.caninesforservice.org.  Pre-registration is preferred with a donation of $25 for the Walk or Dog Dash; children 12 and under are free.  Day of event donation is $35.  Individuals and teams are encouraged to raise money for our program.  Virtual participation is encouraged.

This year’s event adds a Dog Dash – a fun run for people and their favorite canines!  Anyone entering this un-timed run with their canine and crossing the finish line will be entered to win a special prize.  Other activities benefiting Canines for Service include:

·         A vendor scavenger hunt. Grab a blank quiz from the registration table or the doggie treat bar. Visit each vendor (over 20 in attendance) to get an answer to a question (answers posted at each table) and find out more about Canines for Service. Once you have completed all answers, put your quiz in the box for an opportunity to win one of two great prizes – Gift certificate for a Pet Portrait or a gift certificate for a doggie spa treatment.  All quizzes must be completed and turned in by the start of the walk to be eligible to win a prize. 

·         Visit the doggie treat bar and games. For $1.00, your dog can participate in 3 games and win treats:  (1) We guess your dog’s breed; (2) Sit and Shake – a treat if your dog successfully performs each command; and (3) Are you smarter than your dog (come by to find out!).  You can also buy a bag of mix and match treats including blueberry, apple carrot, and sweet potato cranberry. 

·         Have your dog’s photo taken – Visit our photographer and get your dog’s photo taken. Dress up clothes available for a really memorable photo! Donations accepted.

·         Raffle Tickets – Raffle tickets are available for sale at the doggie treat bar. All raffle tickets must be purchased by the start of the walk to be eligible for the drawing.  2 for $5.00 and 5 for $10.00 or get your tickets online at Canines for Service Walk Information.

On the day of the event, sign-in and on-site registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the approximately 2 mile walk around Hugh MacRae Park.  This is a family and dog friendly event participants are encouraged to bring their canine companions.  The event Masters of Ceremony is Sheila Brothers and of SunnyFM 104.5 and photographer Pam Harnett will be there to capture you and your pet the day of the event.   Refreshments will be available pre-Walk.

The Walk For Those Who Can’t, raises money for the Canines for Service’s programs. Funding is used to support growing programs within the organization such as the Canines for Veterans, Canines for Therapy and Canines for Literacy and the service dog program. Service dogs, valued at $40,000 each, assist people with disabilities to regain their independence with the help of the quality trained dogs that can complete over 350 tasks.  “We continue to see a growth in the need for our services.  With the national visibility of our organization, now more than ever, we need the support of our local community.”  said President and CEO Rick Hairston. “This walk is a wonderful opportunity to learn about our many programs and support our mission through a sponsorship, donation, or participation.

Support for the 2012 Walk For Those Who Can’t comes in part from CBS 10 WILM,  Sunrise Broadcasting, SunnyFM 104.5, 98.7 Carolina Coastal Rock, Z107.5, ESPN Radio, The Pet’s Pal Inn, Greater Wilmington Business Journal, WILMA, Alpha Mortgage, Atlantic Animal Hospital, Just Name It, StarNews Media, Port City Java, Fairway Advertising, Wilmington Area Hospitality Association, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and many more.  Event, table top exhibitors and hospitality food sponsorships are available; for more information call 910-362-8181.

Canines for Service is a non-profit corporation dedicated to empowering people with disabilities to achieve greater independence. The group trains and places certified service dogs with the help of volunteer foster families and military prisoners, provides pet therapy certification classes and helps children in our community improve their reading skills. Since its inception in 1996, Canines for Service has provided over $7 million in services to our community. For more information, call 910-362-8181 or visit www.caninesforservice.org.

Walk 2013 - 10 Ways to Get Involved

The 7th Annual Walk for Those Who Can't is quickly approaching on March 23, 2013.  This event is held in Wilmington, NC the home of the corporate office for Canines for Service.  It is a funding raising event for the program and services.  This years event adds a fun Dog Dash for people to run approximately a 2 mile untimed race with their canine buddy.  Here are some ways you can get involved:

1. Live in the general area?  Register to walk by yourself, with your family or friends; http://www.caninesforservice.org/Walk_-Registration.html
2. Register for the Dog Dash and come run with your 4-legged friend.
3. Want to help more?  Set up a Fan Fundraising page and fundraise for the event.  Raise $100 in by asking 10 people to donate 10 dollars.  Ask friends, family, co-workers, neighbors.  Give up one cup of premium coffee a week and donate the money to the Walk.  Fundraise here https://rally.org/walkforthosewhocant
4. Own a business - be a sponsor.  For as little as $100 you can help support the work we do. It is not too late to sponsor http://www.caninesforservice.org/Walk-Sponsors.html
5. Be a Table Top Exhibitor.  For a donation of $100 share your services or get your merchandise in from of between 200 - 600 people in just a few hours. http://www.caninesforservice.org/Walk-Sponsors.html
6. Own a restaurant or food service? Donate food for the hospitality area.  From breakfast to sandwiches, the participates love to be feed.  Your business will be acknowledged in the hospitality area the day of the event.
7. Spread the word.  Put flyers up around your area, in your office at your church. Print the flyer here http://www.caninesforservice.org/uploads/2013_walkFlyer_Jan13.pdf
8. Share this post on Facebook  to get others involved.
9. Volunteer.  We need volunteers to help with all aspects of the event. Email information@caninesforservice.org to get involved with the event.
10. Raise money in your own home town.  Set up a Fan Fundraising page and fundraise for the event.  Raise $100 in by asking 10 people to donate 10 dollars.  Ask friends, family, co-workers, neighbors.  Top fundraiser willbe eligible for a great prize.  And, of course, bragging rights! Fundraise here https://rally.org/walkforthosewhocant

Canines for Veterans Awarded a Grant from explore.org Spirit of ’76 Dog Bless You Campaign

Wilmington, NC November 2012:  Canines for Veterans, a program of Canines for Service, is pleased to announce the receipt of a grant from explore.org, a direct charitable activity of the Annenberg Foundation, in the amount of $125,000.

DogBless You, a nonprofit community created by explore.org founder and Annenberg Foundation Director and Vice President, Charles Annenberg Weingarten, celebrated dogs and soldiers in America and brought service and companion dogs to war veterans through a challenge grant that incorporated Facebook, Tumblr, and Pinterest. For every 1,000 new subscribers on the Dog Bless You Facebook, Pinterest, or Tumblr pages, explore.org donated one service or companion dog to a war veteran. Through a grant made possible by the Annenberg Foundation, explore.org  donated up to 76 dogs with the help of nonprofit organizations throughout the US. The Spirit of ’76 was a celebration of 1776, the birth year of our country’s independence. The campaign offered a chance for people to come together and raise awareness surrounding the healing role dogs can play in the lives of those affected by war.

“Canines for Veterans was honored to be selected a part of this engaging social media campaign”, says Rick Hairston, President and CEO of Canines for Service.   “It was a great opportunity to showcase our program but more importantly help provide our service members the chance to return to as normal a life as possible through the gift of a quality trained service dog.”  

The funding from explore.org will assist Canines for Veterans is training and placing five (5) service dogs with Veterans over the months to come.

Canines for Service is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to empowering people with disabilities to achieve greater independence. The group trains and places certified service dogs with the help of volunteer foster families and military prisoners, provides pet therapy certification classes and helps children in our community improve their reading skills. Since its inception in 1996, Canines for Service has provided over $7 million in services to our community. For more information, call (866) 910-3647 or visit www.caninesforservice.org.

To learn more about the work done just this year, read The Tail End, Christmas 2012. 

Media Contact

Patricia Hairston, Canines for Service

Telephone: 866-910-DOGS (3647)

phairston@caninesforservice.org

The Power of the Community and Volunteers

Time and time again we are reminded of the power created when a group of people unite for a common cause.  On October 27 a night of such power and dedication came together for the common cause called Chords for a Cause.  It was powerful and moving.

Pat Hairston had the honor and privilege of being part of the planning committee by representing Canines for Service, one of the two beneficiaries.  The planning committee is incredible, led by Dr. Damian Brezinski, the group works to bring people together for the greater good through music.This team began working last February and as the event neared the intensity of their commitment culminated in close to 72 hours of constant physical and mental dedicated ensuring a successful event.

This years performers were Edwin McCain and Vanessa Carlton with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra  with guest conductor Rudi Schlegel and the Hoggard High School Voyagers.  The evening was spectacular, even with Hurricane Sandy threatening to dampen the event. Chords for a Cause demonstrates that when you  "give to the world the best you have, the best will come back to you" (Madeline Bridges). 

If Chords for a Cause left you wondering how you can help Canines for Service continue our mission visit the website at www.caninesforservice.org or check out how you can help.

Thank you Chords for a Cause!  

Access It’s the Law And It’s There for Business Owners Too

Canines for Service offers the opportunity for local business owners in the greater Wilmington, NC and Charleston, SC to receive training for themselves and their employees in service dog etiquette, including a review of the Americans With Disabilities Act and the state statute related to access by service dogs and service dogs in training.

As more service dogs are seen in the community, business owners and members of the public might have questions about what a service dog is and what access is permitted.

There are distinctions between service or guide dogs, sometimes known as assistance dogs, and therapy, emotional support or companion dogs.

A therapy, emotional support or companion dog is a pet and does not have legal access to go wherever its person goes. While many people benefit from the emotional bond a dog can provide, the U.S. Department of Justice makes it clear that emotional support and therapy dogs are not service dogs and do not have legal access.

Fully trained service dogs are governed by the Americans With Disabilities Act, which defines a service animal as “any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler's disability.” 

Service dogs in training are governed under state statutes. North Carolina General Statute 168 states, “An animal in training to become a service animal may be taken into any of the places listed in G.S. 168-3 for the purpose of training when the animal is accompanied by a person who is training the service animal and the animal wears a collar and leash, harness, or cape that identifies the animal as a service animal in training. The trainer shall be liable for any damage caused by the animal while using a public conveyance or on the premises of a public facility or other place.” Key to this statute are provisions that the service dog in training must be identified, must be under control of the trainer by leash or harness, and must be the only service dog in training being handled. Further, the state statute is clear that falsely representing an animal as a service dog is a class 3 misdemeanor.

As a business owner, what can you ask a person who enters your establishment?  You can ask the person if the animal is their pet.  You can also ask how the animal serves the person and the skills the dog can perform for the person. You cannot ask the person what their disability is nor can you ask for a letter, certification or identification for the service dog. Service dogs can come in all sizes and assist in many ways.

What if the animal is disruptive to my business? If the animal is disruptive, you have the right to ask the person to remove the animal. Disruptive behavior would include things like barking, growling, snapping, urinating or defecating in the establishment. 

“Canines for Service is here to provide educational services to our community about service dogs and service dog access,” said Rick Hairston, president and CEO. “More and more we are hearing of issues in our community with confusion between service and therapy dogs.  Situations like this will create problems for people who need and benefit from having a quality trained service dog.”

Canines for Service is a non-profit corporation dedicated to empowering people with disabilities to achieve greater independence. The group trains and places certified service dogs with the help of volunteer foster families, provides pet therapy certification classes and helps children in our community improve their reading skills. Since its inception in 1996, Canines for Service has provided over $7 million in services to our community. For more information, call (866) 910-3647 or visit www.caninesforservice.org.