Celebrating 50 Years of Canine Companions in Williamsburg

News Summary

Kathleen Aiello and Leslie Neely celebrate 50 years of Canine Companions, a nonprofit providing service dogs to individuals with disabilities at no cost. The organization, founded in 1975, trains primarily Golden Retrievers and Labradors and is calling for more volunteers. Upcoming ‘Coffee and Canine’ events will raise awareness about service dogs and highlight the importance of community involvement in continuing this vital program.

Williamsburg – Puppy raisers Kathleen Aiello and Leslie Neely are celebrating 50 years of Canine Companions, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing service dogs at no cost to individuals with disabilities. Established in 1975 by Bonnie Bergin, a special education teacher, Canine Companions was inspired by Bergin’s observations of individuals in Asia using donkeys for assistance.

The organization specializes in training service dogs, primarily Golden Retrievers and Labradors, which are born at a breeding facility in California. Once the puppies reach eight weeks of age, they undergo health checks before being placed with volunteer puppy raisers across six regions in the United States. During the initial phase of their training, puppy raisers begin teaching them basic commands, cues, and essential socialization skills.

Puppies typically stay with their raisers until they reach 15 to 18 months old. After this period, they transition to advanced training that occurs in New York, where their foundations from the puppy raisers are further developed. This transition can evoke mixed emotions among puppy raisers, as they experience both the pride of their dogs progressing to assist those with disabilities and the sadness of separation.

Aiello and Neely’s current puppies, Sidney and Asher – the latter being co-raised – are examples of the program’s importance. These dogs are trained to learn approximately 70 commands designed to help their disabled partners with daily tasks such as retrieving dropped items or navigating through crowded spaces. By doing so, service dogs significantly enhance independence for individuals with disabilities, allowing them to perform day-to-day activities more comfortably.

As Canine Companions prepares to host multiple events in August and September to honor its 50-year milestone, there is an urgent call for more volunteers. The organization is particularly in need of individuals to raise puppies, as well as those possessing fundraising or communication skills to support their initiatives.

The Old Dominion chapter of Canine Companions will host “Coffee and Canine” awareness events in Williamsburg, with the first scheduled for August 5 at 1607 Coffee from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Additional events are planned for August 23 at Spoke & Art Provisions (exact times pending) and September 9 at The Sipping Flea from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. September is notably recognized as National Service Dog Month, providing an opportunity to raise awareness about the role of service dogs and the needs of organizations like Canine Companions.

For community members interested in learning more about Canine Companions or on how to volunteer, additional information can be found by visiting their official website at canine.org.

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Additional Resources

• WYDaily
• Wikipedia: Service Dog
• Dignity Memorial
• Google Search: Canine Companions
• Franchise Wire
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Therapeutic Animal
• Daily Press
• Google News: Service Dogs