Lisa Marn

Tahiti (the Sweetie) is Lisa Marn’s second service dog from Canine Companions for Independence. Lisa is eternally thankful to Canine Companions for Independence for the awesome work they did in training and matching her two service dogs. Tahiti enhances Lisa’s independence at home, in the community, and at work.

Lisa was recently engaged to Eric. Tahiti enables Lisa and Eric to have quality, alone time by reducing the need for human assistance. Tahiti helps Lisa around the house by picking up what is dropped and retrieving items. At work, Tahiti opens doors, carries items, and brings joy to co-workers and consumers.

Tahiti has been a source of unconditional love and acceptance for Lisa.  In September 2017, Tahiti will be Lisa’s Dog of Honor in her wedding. They are another exceptional match!

Kathy Corrigan-Cardelle & Bailey

If you want to know the answer to that musical question “who let the dogs out,” the answer is: Kathy did!

I had a blast at Team Training---well except for feeling incredibly clumsy when I voiced the wrong command, and 68 legs LEAPED in unison and surged forward in one big dog-wave of flying fur! Thank goodness for our Canine Companions Team Instructors. With two words, they got all 17 dogs to freeze and be under control again inside of 60 seconds!

How does that happen? Fantastic Puppy Raisers, and AMAZING Teachers who work tirelessly to socialize and train exceptional, focused Labs and Golden Retriever/Lab pups.

At first, class was like “speed-dating.” We each worked with one dog for 1-2 exercises, and then we would switch dogs until everyone had the right fit. I think they should call it “speed-dogging.”

Since Bailey picked me, we have a routine. Bailey knows when I am getting ready to go to work, and she lifts her head and thumps her tail. She knows when I say “Dress” that it is time to put on her vest and be ready to help. And wow, help she does! I never realized just how many things I drop in a day, or how much easier my life is when I can ask Bailey to hold a thing for me while I get adjusted in my chair. And Bailey does it all with an eager, happy face and a wagging tail! She loves to work. It feels great to know that I can get things accomplished without needing to ask a person nearby to stop what they are doing and get something for me. Bailey has gifted me with an added bonus: she is a people magnet! Instead of passing me without a word, people can’t help but stop, smile, and ask questions. Like magic, my chair and my disability disappear, and folks are meeting both of us. I knew Bailey was accepted at my jobsite when 4 different colleagues in a row said, “HI BAILEY!” and then remembered to add a hello for me afterwards. Bailey makes me happy and proud. She adds ease to my work-day, and funny antics to my evening rest. After an 8-hour shift, there is no better couch-potato than a sweet dog with soft ears and a cold, wet nose that “shoves” my hand waiting for another pet on her fur. 

Richard Sesso

On April 1, 2012, I got a spinal cord injury.  I asked about getting a service dog and the VA suggested Canine Companions for Independence.  I met with a group of Doctors who helped me get in contact with the Canine Companions.  After one year, Canine Companions called me to come visit their facility in Delaware, Ohio.  It was so exciting to actually see how the dogs do commands that would help me become more independent. 

The staff worked hard and matched me with Juju.  Juju has helped me in so many ways.  He picks up things constantly, helps with simple duties like opening doors, and he gives me so much love.  I feel so lucky to have him in my life.

Emily Lezon

Hi, my name is Emily Lezon. I want to speak about my experience with Canine Companions.

One day in 2014, I was invited to an event at Ritter Public Library. I went to the event. Needless to say, I have always been very afraid of dogs. I saw all of the neat things service dogs can do and knew they could help me. A few months later my mom signed me up to try to receive a service dog in Columbus.  We started working with our local Canine Companions puppy raisers (Stacey and Patty) to get over my fear of dogs. In October of last year, I got a letter stating that I was on the waiting list. I was so excited. We then waited for months until we got the call to come to Columbus at the end of October of 2016 for a two-week training.

 
Training was hard and long, but it was fun with the nice people I met. After working with about eight dogs, I was matched with David. He was the biggest dog in the class.

We have been really busy since we graduated on November 4th. As I am an intern at the YMCA and am concentrating on all that I have to learn this year, David does not go with me yet. David has worked the door with me at basketball games, goes to cheerleading practice, attended three cheerleading competitions, accompanied me on my at birthday trip, experienced holidays with both sides of our family, and we just got home from a two-week trip to Florida. David is a wonderful traveler and made my trip even better. He rode beside me all of the way to Florida. We are continuing to work on all of our commands and David is really good at picking up all of the things that I drop. I love my life with David.

Molly Sommer

I first became involved with Canine Companions for Independence about 6 or 7 years ago when my neighbor, Staicey Scholtz, decided to become a volunteer puppy raiser. I had never heard of Canine Companions, but I knew if Staicey was going to be involved with this organization—and for her to raise a yellow puppy and turn it back in at 18 months—that it had to be a "Rock Star" organization! I thought for sure that she would NOT be able to give up this adorable puppy who, after 18 months, had left numerous paw prints on her heart. Staicey, being the determined woman that she is, turned in her first dog, Elroy, at 18 months. And the BEST part was that 6 months later, he was placed with a match! Wow........... Little Elroy, who had captured our hearts graduated, giving a disabled individual a wonderful chance for an independent life!

Staicey has remained deeply committed to this outstanding organization and is on her 7th puppy. I must admit that as her neighbor, I did not fully understand the true meaning of being a puppy raiser until I went to the graduation of the fourth dog she raised, Ben. I had been to turn-ins before, but when I saw Staicey personally hand over the leash to Ben's match, the tears just streamed down my face! They were tears of joy that this young man, who was now Ben's new owner, was given a chance to go to college with Ben at his side! If this is NOT "paying it forward," then I do not know what is!

When I truly saw the love, joy, and bond that these dogs have with their new owner, and the work that they do to give a person with a disability a new chance at life, it was the most heart-warming experience I have ever witnessed. I have had heart-warming experiences as a parent, but this was completely different.

Often, the local puppy raisers train the puppies as a group. During a recent outing, the group was shorthanded. Staicey asked me to handle her puppy named Kinsman. We were showcasing commands and it was time for the “Up” command. I said “Up” and Kinsman obeyed! The look of joy on the person’s face was unforgettable. Then I thought, “My voice gave Kinsman a command and he did it!” I must admit, I felt very proud!

Our group then went on to train at South Park Mall, and again Kinsmen did all of the commands I asked him to do! I received “A” on my substitute Puppy Handler Report Card!!!! People came up and asked about Canine Companions and I did NOT hesitate to tell them all about it. Most of all, I cheered them on to be a Puppy Raiser, too!

I went home that day really, really thinking about being a puppy raiser for Canine Companions. It is such an honor to be connected to this WONDERFUL organization! So, as my story comes to a close, you might see me in the Spring of 2017 being a Puppy Raiser for Canine Companions! As one of the graduates said, "My dog has a magic trick...he makes my wheelchair disappear!" How can you say no to that?

John and Rae Lynn Phillips and Filbert

John and I met Vicki Simons while running a 5K in our home town. She had Nike with her.  She talked about being a puppy raiser for Canine Companions for Independence.  After a couple days, we kept talking about it and decided to fill out an application and see what happened.  While on vacation, we got the call that we could pick up our puppy on August 5th.  We were so excited to meet the little guy!  From that day on, we have enjoyed every aspect of being a puppy raiser.  Every day, is a new adventure and we've enjoyed meeting everyone who's involved.  We both think filling out that application is one of the best decisions we could've made.

Mary Ann Costantini and Young IV

Mary Ann Costantini (deaf USMC Veteran and Teacher in Steubenville, OH), and Young IV (a Spirited Golden/Lab cross) were matched in September 2015 in Santa Rosa, CA during Hearing Team Training. A little over a year later, 3-year old Young enjoys his daily routine working, and having fun, with his “team-mate”.

Mary Ann finds that Young is helping much more than she ever dreamed possible. Daily sounds including family voices and students became a major issue. She began withdrawing because of her hearing decline. She learned that at some “future point”, she would be completely deaf. With a background in teaching special education, she was aware of assistance dogs, but hesitated, thinking that those special workers would be more help to another who had greater needs. Finally, with more frequent encouragement from her family, she contacted CCI and applied for a hearing dog. Her experiences during the 2015 CCI Hearing Dog Team Training changed her life. Little did she know at the time, that 2-year old Young IV would become her team-mate, companion, and constant friend.

The team works together and, according to Mary Ann, is still “a work in progress” since there is always something new to learn from, and about, each other. “Becoming a true team requires a little effort from both of us.” Young alerts Mary Ann to various home sounds such as the microwave, door, alarm clock, laundry machines, family members, and any other sound she would normally be unable to hear. Young also goes to work where he alerts her to her students, co-workers, and other environmental sounds. When Young is “off duty”, they enjoy playing and relaxing together.