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Facts and FAQS
National Fact Sheet
- Founded July 1975 in Santa Rosa, California
- First Canine Companion teams placed in 1978
- First member of Assistance Dogs International to
earn full accreditation
- 166 teams graduated in 2003
- 137 teams graduated in 2002
- 138 teams graduated in 2001
- 114 teams graduated in 2000
- 1,066 active graduate teams nationwide
- 2,100 graduate teams placed from founding to date
- 260 candidates for Team Training on the waiting
list
- 860 active puppy raisers
- 80 active breeder dogs
- 3,000 active volunteers nationwide
- Five Regional Centers:
- Santa Rosa and Oceanside, California
- Delaware, Ohio
- Farmingdale, New York, and
- Orlando, Florida
- Two Satellite Offices:
Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Chicago, Illinois
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is Canine Companions for Independence (CCI)?
CCI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that enhances
the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly
trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure
quality partnerships.
Q. What types of assistance dogs does CCI train?
CCI trains four types of Canine Companion Teams:
Service Teams - People with physical and/or developmental
disabilities who work with a Canine Companion to enhance
their ability to perform practical tasks such as retrieving
dropped items, opening doors, and turning on and off
light switches.
Hearing Teams - Adults who are hard of hearing or deaf
who use a Canine Companion to alert them to everyday
sounds such as telephones, alarm clocks, and smoke alarms.
Skilled Companion Teams - Adults and children with
disabilities who benefit from the social, interactive,
and functional commands of a Canine Companion. This
type of placement increases the communication, range
of motion, and interactive skills of some recipients.
Facility Teams - Adults who work as professional care
givers, educators, or in other settings that can utilize
a Canine Companion to improve the mental, physical,
or emotional health of individuals, young and old, in
those settings.
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Q. What does it cost to receive a Canine Companion?
CCI graduates pay only a $100 Team Training registration
fee that is reimbursed in supplies; there is no charge
for the dog. Individual participants in our program
are not responsible for any of the substantial costs
involved in the lengthy process of breeding, raising,
and training each Canine Companion.
Q. How is CCI funded?
CCI is funded by private contributions; gifts from
businesses, civic groups, and service clubs; grants
from corporations and foundations; and ongoing fundraising
activities such as special events and mailings. CCI
receives no government funding.
Q. Who is eligible to apply for a Canine Companion?
People with physical or developmental disabilities
who can demonstrate that a Canine Companion will enhance
their independence or their quality of life are qualified
to apply. Also eligible are professionals working for
organizations that provide physical or mental health
care to clients who will benefit from interaction with
a facility dog.
Q. What is the application procedure?
Contact the regional center nearest you and ask for
an application information packet. This packet includes
an overview of CCI's team programs and an Application
Request Form that you need to complete to be considered
for an assistance dog. The applicant coordinator in
your region will review your completed request and assist
you throughout the application process.
Q. What are the responsibilities of the person or facility
receiving a Canine Companion?
Each candidate must successfully complete a two-week
educational course at the regional center designed to
match the person and dog and to prepare them to work
together successfully. Each candidate is also responsible
for the proper care, feeding, housing, and medical needs
of the canine. The dog must be used in the working capacity
for which it was intended.
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Q. What breeds of dogs does CCI use?
CCI uses Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and
crosses of these two breeds. Most of our dogs come from
CCI's selective breeding program. Occasionally, donated
puppies are accepted if they meet the strict qualification
requirements.
Q. Where are CCI dogs trained?
CCI puppies are raised by volunteers who take them
to puppy classes and teach them house manners and public
etiquette. When they are old enough to enter our formal
training program, CCI dogs come to one of our five regional
training centers. (see below)
Q. How long does each Canine Companion work?
The average service life of each dog is eight years.
After that time the dog is retired and will live out
its golden years as a pet.
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Gretchen
has been with our company since September of 2004. She is
being raised for CCI by Brina Jannenga, owner of The Younique
Boutique.
Gretchen
comes to work at The Younique Boutique daily. Most of the
day she spends tethered to one of us. She takes a lot of walks
to the mailbox and around the building. 
