Did you know the number of Americans with disabilities who could benefit from a service dog far exceeds the capacity of all service dog organizations able to raise them?
September was Service Dog Awareness Month, officially proclaimed as such by both James City County and Henrico County in Virginia. So, what better way to do good than supporting an organization that provides them? Canine Companions is one such organization and Leslie Neely and her husband, John, jumped right in to volunteer as puppy raisers after moving to Virginia in 2019.
Recognizing the profound impact their daughter’s service dog, Karma, had on her life as she lost her hearing, the Neelys wanted to give back. Their current puppy, Damon, is the 10th they’ve helped raise between Canine Companions Old Dominion Chapter and another similar organization for which they volunteered prior to moving to Virginia.
Service dogs are not the same as emotional support dogs, an important distinction. Service dogs are covered by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) which guarantees people with disabilities the right to be accompanied by a trained service dog in all areas open to the general public.
As such Canine Companions and their nationwide team of over 4,000 volunteer partners work hard to get these puppies ready for their people:
- Raising puppies.
- Co-raising puppies.
- Short-term puppy sitting.
- Fundraising.
- Hospitality at fundraising events.
- Transporting dogs, by car, van, and even pilots volunteer to help ferry dogs across the country.
- Donors at a certain level can even name a puppy.
- There are lots and lots of other ways to volunteer.
“The bond between a human and canine is profound,” says Leslie, who stresses that Canine Companion volunteers are not professional dog trainers. But, they do help puppies develop the early life and social skills needed so that they are ready to work with professional trainers. Puppies come to live with their raisers at 8 weeks and stay through about 17 months. During that time they learn to explore all the great things about life: riding in cars, going into stores, and that loud noises aren’t scary. They socialize with other dogs and people of all ages. After 17 months, the puppies graduate from their raiser’s home and go on to work with professional trainers who teach them the specific skills they’ll need to be a full-time partner to their person. In the Neely’s case and other puppy raisers like them, they are then ready to begin raising a new puppy.
What does it take to volunteer, particularly as a puppy raiser, co-raiser or sitter as service dog organizations are in such need? A warm and giving heart. A safe home with no more than three well behaved dogs, and “they don’t have to be well trained dogs,” says Neely, “just well behaved.” And, volunteers need to have a commitment to ensuring these puppies have their best chance possible to succeed.