Wendy and Kurt Setterberg & SD Piazza

We started our journey with Canine Companions for Independence in August, 2015, after meeting Vicki Simons and her puppy in training, Nike, who represented Canine Companions at an event in Sharon, Pennsylvania. It was like we kept getting pulled back to ask Vicki “one more question.” She mentioned that we could see what Canine Companions was about at a graduation ceremony, and we attended one that November, in Dublin, Ohio. We met so many wonderful people and learned quite a bit about Canine Companions in those few hours, but didn’t know enough to bring Kleenex. That December, we participated in our first volunteer event--a gift wrap fundraiser at Barnes and Noble.

We continued to be “Volunteers Without a Puppy” until June of 2017, when we received from Canine Companions an eight-week-old black Labrador Retriever/Golden Retriever cross puppy named Piazza. From that point on, we became “Volunteer Puppy Raisers,” and what a journey it has been!

We’ve always enjoyed spending time and working with our pets, but this was a full court press! In raising a Canine Companions puppy, you have the puppy with you as much as possible. You attend obedience classes and workshops, work, train, and socialize the dog in all aspects of everyday life, and train in some quite unusual locations, as well.

We were welcomed into the Canine Companions for Independence family by our Northern Ohio Chapter Members! Working with your dog alongside a group of like-minded people is very rewarding. So is watching the little light bulb come on above the puppy’s head that says “I Get It!” as they give you the behavior(s) that you had asked for.

After spending almost seventeen months with us, Piazza went into Professional Training at the North Central Regional Training Center in Delaware, Ohio. We had chosen to wait to see Piazza’s Journey go full cycle before we considered raising another puppy. That was an extremely long six-month wait with bated breath, but what an explosion of emotions when we received word that he was going to Team Training, and hopefully on to match with a person that needed him for more independence in their life.

 

Anyone who knows Wendy, knows she now comes to Graduations “packing”—i.e. pockets lined with Kleenex.  Seeing Piazza again was such an emotional roller coaster day. Our serious boy looked into our eyes. He had become even more astute.

The day was wonderful. We met Matthew, Piazza’s Forever Person, shared Piazza’s upbringing and his puppy pictures, and listened as Matthew shared what this experience meant to him. We are so very blessed and pleased to know that Team Piazza can enhance Matthew’s everyday life, and we know that Piazza will bring not only skills, but lots of love and companionship.

Matthew and Piazza’s journey has just begun. As time goes on, we hope to hear how they are doing. Who knows if there is another nameless Canine Companions puppy out there for the Setterberg’s to try their hand at raising and molding?? One that will enrich our lives as we see the puppy grow into an adult dog with our help and that of our Canine Companions Family. Hopefully, that puppy would also go on to be a partner for someone who will love him as much as we do--but need him more to bring help, independence, joy, and a smile to their life.

“Give a Dog a Job!!!”

Naomi Saxton & Tuck

As far back as I can remember, we have always had at least one dog in the house. We now have three Great Pyrenees dogs at the barn (two are puppies) and a Border Collie, Kaya, in the house. Then, of course, Tuck.

It was only about 2 years ago that I really got interested in dog-related things. I began to compete more seriously with Kaya in 4H obedience and agility. We have also been breeding AKC Great Pyrenees dogs for the past 10 years. My siblings and I help socialize the puppies and analyze their temperaments. It is always hard to give them away, but it is worth it to see the happy owners carry away their new puppy!

My mom and my great aunt Marilyn were the ones who got me involved with Canine Companions for Independence. In California, my great aunt is on her 12th CCI puppy. She has always encouraged us to be volunteer puppy raisers, however as none in our family really had an interest in it (except for my mom), we held off. Then when I began to get more into dog training, my mom decided that it would be a good time to start this new journey of puppy raising.

We got Tuck on March 1st. He is the smallest of the nine puppies in the litter, but sometimes those are the best! Breeding and selling the Pyrenees has helped to prepare me for what is coming in turning Tuck back over to the North Central Region training center in Delaware, Ohio, in the year of 2020.

It is quite different to have a Lab/Golden puppy after being around Great Pyrenees for so long. The two breeds are different, as one is bred to work with you and the other to work away from you. I am looking forward to raising him with the hope that he will one day be an assistance dog and help those around him.

Lisa and Keith Dare & Schumann II

All of us walk among this earth hoping we can find our “true” calling, find that “one” thing that fills ours hearts with so much JOY and impacts others with a new life of independence.

God blessed us in March of 2017 with an amazing puppy named Schumann ll. He opened our hearts and lives like nothing we have experienced before. Over our 18 months together, we knew he was special. But we all can be bias. It was towards the end of our time together that we saw things shift with Schumann ll. He was destined to be do something fulfilling.

Now, he is a HERO to his NEW family. Schumann will fill their lives with JOY.

Thank you for shining your true light on us Schumann ll. We are beyond PROUD and look forward to following your NEW journey with Danielle.

Erin Taggart

I began volunteering with Canine Companions for Independence six years ago after a series of events led me to discover the organization. Having worked in pet care for a few years, I decided to attend dog training school where I learned about obedience, puppy, and even service dog training, since that’s always been an interest of mine.

Soon after, I adopted my German Spitz rescue, Queequeg. An energetic little guy, we went to every dog related event around, eventually making our way to Hinckley Ohio, and Canine Companions. I was hooked when I heard a graduate speak about how her life was positively impacted by getting a service dog. I immediately wanted to get involved to help more people get this opportunity.

I found the volunteers to be very warm and welcoming. Most of them are puppy raisers and, while this isn’t something that fits into my life right now, that doesn’t mean I can’t pitch in and help. If I’m running the projector at an event, that frees up those with puppies to get out and mingle. Other times I get to do a little more. A favorite volunteer moment was running the contests at the Dogfest fundraiser. I love the way a contest like ‘best trick’ can showcase the tasks Canine Companions for Independence dogs do for people on a daily basis. On other occasions I’ve gotten to march in parades. Once I had the privilege of walking a Canine Companions puppy so the raiser could photograph the event. I also love that I can take my own dog to some of the events. We both have a blast!

For the past few years I’ve been doing dog walking and training while attending Cleveland State University, graduating last year with my Bachelor of Arts in psychology. I’m excited that Canine Companions has started a PTSD pilot program. Service dogs can do so much to help a person, whether their need is physical or psychological. In the future I plan to continue in the pet care or training fields, maybe even training service dogs someday. For now, I’m happy helping out where I can for such an amazing organization.

Bill and Mary Jane McGinnis and Canto II and Neal VI

We have been puppy raisers for Canine Companions since Bruin II came into our life one cold, snowy day in March of 2016. Our 12-year-old pet lab, Maverick, had just passed away quickly from jaw cancer, and our home was just too empty without a dog!

Our daughter, Staicey Scholtz, has raised Canine Companion pups since 2009, so puppy raising was familiar to us.  Bruin needed a puppy raiser, and we needed a puppy, so the rest is HISTORY!

Being retired allows us to have plenty of time to devote to caring for, training and loving these special pups. Neal VI, our 3rd puppy, is 5 months old; our second, Canto II, matriculated to professional training on Nov 9th.  Bruin hit the jackpot of release dogs (reason: alert barking) with a very special Medina family who has certified him as a therapy dog.

Raising a puppy for us has been (and still is) an amazing adventure--from those needle-sharp teeth, “hurry” training, and sweet puppy breath, to the maturity of the 18-month-old ready to leave the “nest” and soar in whatever direction he or she chooses.  In between are the short nights, busy days learning commands, manners and limits, as well as trips to the vet, presentations, play dates, and trips across the country.

Most of all, this journey has kept us busy and given us new friendships and relationships we could have never imagined.  Whether it’s the “blue people” of Northern Ohio Chapter, or volunteers, puppy raisers, or graduates near and far, we feel the connection shared by those who support Canine Companions' mission of providing “exceptional dogs to exceptional people.”  It’s how we can say “goodbye” to a pup and welcome another every year.  Experiencing a graduate’s gratitude makes puppy raising rewarding beyond words: PRICELESS!  We would recommend it to anyone who wants to be part of changing someone’s life.

Vivian Steuterman

I first became aware of Canine Companions for Independence years ago through my neighbors, Mary Jane and Bill McGinnis and their daughter, Staicey Scholtz.  I would care for their puppies when they needed help and make monetary donations.  Little did I know at that time how much I would grow to love the Canine Companions mission, the puppy raisers, and the remarkable dogs they raise.  

A year ago, I decided to get more involved.  I am not currently in a position to raise a puppy, so I was not sure how much I could really help.  I started by making doggy treat bags and helping out once a month at puppy socialization classes.  Since then, I have attended as many of the Northern Ohio Chapter events as I can.  I even tagged along on a training event at the North Central Training Center because I wanted to see the facility and what they do there.  I have learned so much from the incredible puppy raising families and their Canine Companions puppies.  They are some of the friendliest, giving people I have ever met.  They give of themselves every minute of every day to raise these special puppies.  It truly does take a “village” to raise these puppies, and the puppy raisers love and care about the success of every puppy in the chapter.  

My family and I had attended the annual Dog Fest celebration in the past. It has always been a fabulous and fun event.  I offered to help in any way I could with DogFest 2018.  I started to attend the planning meetings, offered to organize a station, and volunteered my family to help, too.  Needless to say, it was a tremendous and successful event.  It was such a rewarding day for us and all of the Northern Ohio Chapter.  We are excited for next year. Hopefully, we can help more with the fund raising.  It is truly inspiring that these highly trained Canine Companions dogs are provided free of charge.  

Now that I have spent time with some of the graduates of this program and their assistance dogs, I really have a much better idea of the whole CCI mission and the difference these dogs make in people’s lives.  They not only provide their recipients with happiness, they also open up a world of opportunities to them.  I attended my first graduation ceremony in November.  

Initially I was not sure how much I could really help without actually raising a puppy.  Now I am so happy I got involved.  I really enjoy volunteering and attending the chapter events. I am very thankful for my new CCI “family” and am proud to be part of such a wonderful organization.

Stacey Schilling and Layton III

In the fall of 2001, I was in a head-on near-fatal car accident. Every year, my body is slowing down. I don’t know what my future holds.

After the accident, I got on the computer and started searching for service dog options. I found Canine Companions for Independence in Delaware Ohio. My sister happens to live in Delaware, Ohio, so I gave her a call. She said one of her neighbors had a Canine Companions service dog. My sister looked up Canine Companions and researched for me.

In 2015, I applied, not knowing what it all meant for me and my family. The application consisted of paperwork and interviews. I liked how they were genuinely concerned about all of my needs.

This year, on my birthday, February 4th, we drove to Delaware to stay with my sister for the two weeks of team training. On the third day of class, I met Layton. I felt an immediate connection to this dog and our wonderful journey started. Layton can read my mind and body language. He can feel my emotions through the leash.

Because of my injury, I am not allowed to bend over. Due to a titanium plate in my neck, I cannot look down at my feet or turn my head all the way from side to side. But Layton does so much for me!

When we are out shopping or just out, he will sometimes bump my leg with his nose to get my attention. That bump refocuses me. Then I concentrate on what is happening. I may be tired, fatigued, or overwhelmed by people etc. Layton lets me know when it’s time to get out and go home. I say, “Layton, let’s go home.” Then I focus on what to do to get out of my stressful situation. While shopping, Layton will do an up command to give the cashier my money. Then Layton gives me back the change. He will take the article that I bought from cashier and carry it to the car for me.

When grocery shopping, Layton will get items from the bottom shelf at the store and carry the groceries out to the car and into the house.

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While out walking one day, Layton nosed me three times in a row. Then he pushed harder. His movements slowed me way down. All of a sudden, I had a bad pain in my leg. If it were not for him, I would have fallen—and I’m not supposed to fall.

Layton pulls the laundry basket through the house, picks up clothes, puts them in the basket, and picks up other items I drop all day. He opens and closes doors, drawers, pulls open the door on the refrigerator and freezer, and even opens the trash can.

I have nerve damage in my hands and arms. Layton will retrieve my shoes, tug off my socks, coat, gloves, and pants for me. He jumps up and pushes the handicap door button and elevator button, too. And if I am in need of a family member, I say, “Layton, go get Don” or Corie etc., and he does.

 
I would not trade my Canine Companions for Independence experience for anything. During team training, all the trainers and staff knew exactly what I needed and encouraged me through it all. Everyone was there to help. They encouraged us all the time saying, “Everyone will succeed!”

Canine Companions integrity is tops in every department. All the trainers know what they’re doing. They get recertified all the time and are always looking for ways to improve. Besides the trainers, there are a lot of volunteers that work behind the scenes. No other group compares to this new family of mine. They are the only organization that I know of that gives their dogs to their recipients. They never ask for a penny from you to have a dog!

I would recommend Canine Companions for Independence to anyone who asks. Everyone needs hope, love, and encouragement! Thank you to all the puppy raisers and a very very special thank you to Mr. & Mrs. John Belcik who raised Layton III, my hero.