Julie, Jack & Hoshi Soroka

Hoshi has been Jack’s skilled service dog for two years.  We applied for a skilled companion dog with Canine Companions in 2011 when Jack was five.  We got the call in July 2012 that Jack was put on the waiting list! Eighteen months later, we headed to Columbus to begin the awesome ten-day training process.

Hoshi loves working with Jack.  When he drops things on the floor (pencils, toys, cup, etc.), Hoshi picks them up and gives them to him. Hoshi even opens the refrigerator for Jack.  When we’re out, Hoshi presses the handicap buttons on the doors for Jack.  Every time Hoshi does a command, he wags his tail!  He loves working!  

Every night Hoshi jumps into bed with Jack (on command of course) and Jack tells him about his day!

Note: Julie, Jack and Hoshi are a Skilled Companion Team. Canine Companions for Independence trains skilled companion dogs to work with an adult or child with a disability under the guidance of a facilitator. A facilitator is typically a parent, spouse or caregiver who handles and cares for the assistance dog, encourages a strong bond between the recipient and the skilled companion dog, and is responsible for the customized training needs of the dog. Canine Companions breeds skilled companion dogs to be calm, reliable and affectionate. The skilled companion dog reduces the recipient’s reliance on other people to complete simple daily tasks.

Heather Hill

I moved to Ohio from New Mexico in 2013, where I volunteered for a local assistance dog training program. After we decided to make the move to Vermilion, my Mother-in-law could not stop talking about how I needed to meet Staicey. “Staicey raises assistance dogs, I KNOW you’ll be interested in the organization…You are going to love Staicey and her dogs.”  This was my first introduction to a cause even I was unaware of how involved I’d become. I knew I wanted to be a puppy raiser, but I didn’t know I was going to gain a whole network of, for lack of a better term, CCI family.

Bringing a puppy into your life, knowing it’s temporary, is a strange balancing act. I began telling myself, I won’t fall in love. Then after about 8 seconds, I’m in love. (Both times.) It’s a journey from potty training and no sleep, to sheer amazement at how these dogs affect my life for the better. Knowing that the way they will affect their forever home will be intensely different from how they change mine. It’s a balancing act of taking all I can for 18 months, so I can give it all away when it’s time.

Currently I am raising Maurice, he is just 6 months old and already is gaining confidence and self-control that are hallmarks of a successful service dogs. He makes us laugh, and he makes us wonder why we want another puppy, but mostly he just makes us happy as he works through his journey to become whatever he chooses to become!