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National
Fact Sheet
- Founded
July 1975 in Santa Rosa, California
- First
Canine Companion teams placed in 1978
- First
member of Assistance
Dogs International to earn full accreditation
- 178 teams graduated in 2006
- 196 teams graduated in 2005
- 179
teams graduated in 2004
- 165
teams graduated in 2003
- 1,237
active graduate teams nationwide
- 2,562
graduate teams placed from founding to date
- 623
volunteer puppy raisers
- 95
volunteer breeder caretakers (includes 3 co-caretaker teams)
- 92
active breeder dogs
- 3000+
active volunteers nationwide
- Several hundred CCI release dogs are currently functioning in such human services roles as bomb searching, border patrol, customs, and therapy and guide dogs.
Five
Regional Centers
Frequently
Asked Questions
Q.
What is
Canine Companions for Independence (CCI)?
CCI
is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of
people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance
dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships.
Q.
What types of assistance dogs does CCI train?
CCI
trains four types of Canine Companion Teams:
Service
Teams - People with physical and/or developmental
disabilities who work with a Canine Companion to enhance their
ability
to perform practical tasks such as retrieving dropped items, opening
doors, and turning on and off light switches.
Hearing
Teams
- Adults who are hard of hearing or deaf who
use a Canine Companion to alert them to everyday sounds such as
telephones, alarm clocks, and smoke alarms.
Skilled
Companion Teams
- Adults and children with disabilities
who benefit from the social, interactive, and functional commands
of a Canine Companion. This type of placement increases the
communication, range of motion, and interactive skills of some
recipients.
Facility
Teams
-
Adults who work as professional care givers, educators, or in
other settings that can utilize a Canine Companion to improve the mental, physical, or emotional
health of individuals, young and old, in those settings.
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Q.
What does it cost to receive a Canine Companion?
There is no charge for a CCI dog assistance dog. Individual
participants in our program are not responsible for any of the substantial
costs involved in the lengthy process of breeding, raising, and
training each Canine Companion.
Q.
How is CCI funded?
CCI
is funded by private contributions; gifts from businesses, civic
groups, and service clubs; grants from corporations and foundations;
and ongoing fundraising activities such as special events and mailings.
CCI receives no government funding.
Q.
Who is eligible to apply for a Canine Companion?
People
with physical or developmental disabilities who can demonstrate
that a Canine Companion will enhance their independence or their
quality of life are qualified to apply. Also eligible are professionals
working for organizations that provide physical or mental health
care to clients who will benefit from interaction with a facility
dog.
Q.
What is the application procedure?
Contact
the regional center nearest you and ask for an application information
packet. This packet includes an overview of CCI's team programs
and an Application Request Form that you need to complete to be
considered for an assistance dog. The applicant coordinator in your
region will review your completed request and assist you throughout
the application process.
Q.
What are the responsibilities of the person or facility receiving
a Canine Companion?
Each
candidate must successfully complete a two-week educational course
at the regional center designed to match the person and dog and
to prepare them to work together successfully. Each candidate is
also responsible for the proper care, feeding, housing, and medical
needs of the canine. The dog must be used in the working capacity
for which it was intended.
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Q.
What breeds of dogs does CCI use?
CCI uses Golden Retrievers,
Labrador Retrievers, and crosses of these two breeds. Most of our
dogs come from CCI's selective breeding
program. Occasionally, donated
puppies are accepted if they meet the strict qualification requirements.
Q.
Where are CCI dogs trained?
CCI
puppies are raised by volunteers who take them to puppy classes
and teach them house manners and public etiquette. When they are
old enough to enter our formal training program, CCI dogs come to
one of our five regional training centers. (see below)
Q.
How long does each Canine Companion work?
The
average service life of each dog is eight years. After that time
the dog is retired and will live out its golden years as a pet.
Also:
Assistance Dog Etiquette and
Responsibilities
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National
Headquarters and Northwest
Regional Center
PO
Box 446
Santa Rosa, CA 95402-0446
Voice 707-577-1700
TTY 707-577-1756
North
Central Regional Center
4989
State Route 37 East
Delaware, OH 43015-9682
Voice/TTY 740-548-4447
Chicago
Satellite Office
PO
Box 41
Woodstock, IL 60098
Voice 847-816-7360
Northeast
Regional Center
PO
Box 205
Farmingdale, NY 11735-0205
Voice/TTY 631-694-6938
Southeast
Regional
Center
PO
Box 680388
Orlando, FL 32868-0388
Voice 407-522-3300
Southwest
Regional
Center
PO
Box 4568
Oceanside, CA 92052
Voice 760-901-4300
TTY 760-901-4326
Colorado
Satellite Office
1045-P
Garden of the Gods Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Voice 719-260-6151
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