Canine Companions For Independence, Part One
Canine Companions for Independence is a non-profit organization that provides dogs for handicapped people, to provide physical assistance and also an emotional lift. Mitch Wilder shows you how these companion dogs improve the lives of their companions.
Step 1: Meet Libby Kienzle
Libby Kienzle loves to raise her puppies. She trains them, give them lots of loving, and make sure they’re socialized.But after bondingfor a year, she has to give them up.
Libby: This is Kinzeile, he will be leaving me. I’ll be taking him on Friday. I always cry he’s a great dog. Libby works with Canine Companions for Independence, a non-profit organization that provides working dogs for the handicap people.
Step 2: Matching Dogs to People
Libby: These dogs not only help them physically but emotionally they have that bond there.
Mitch Wilder: When Libby met Britney and Robin Dupont on a CCI event, she knew immediately how Britney would benefit from a Canine Companion for Independence.
Britney: That’s it, good girl!
Mitch Wilder: Canine companions matched Britney with Eddie a Lab- golden mix.
Step 3: Being a companion dog isn’t easy
Robin Dupont: She lost her ability to a lot of things and ever since having Eddie, I mean Britney’s endurance has skyrocketed.
Mitch Wilder: Becoming a companion dog isn’t easy. Puppies first have to be socialized and get used to all different types of stimulus and environments.
Step 4: Dogs Improving Quality of Life
The dogs receive more trainings at the training center for a year. At age two, the dog is then matched with a candidate.
Robin Dupont: She has improved medically, she has improved socially, and she’s gotten her life back.
Mitch Wilder: The puppy-raisers work for free and often vets will donate their assistance too, now that’s compassion. Next time on The Pet Report we’ll show you just how CCI helps in hospitals.
For The Pet Report, I’m Mitch Wilder.
