Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Bonsall Woman's Club contributes to Canine Companions for Independence

FALLBROOK – Canine Companions for Independence is a national organization, established in 1975, which provides expertly trained assistance dogs that enhance the lives of people with disabilities. These dogs are provided free of charge. The nonprofit organization also provides ongoing support to recipients to ensure a quality partnership.

The Bonsall Woman's Club presented a check for $20,000 to their facility in Oceanside.

The assistance dogs are bred, raised and trained to be the ears, hands and legs of their human partners. They also serve as goodwill ambassadors, and often, as their best friends.

Canine Companions breeds Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and a cross of the two to be assistance dogs. Volunteers care for the breeder dogs and nurture newborn puppies for eight weeks. The puppies spend the next 14-18 months with volunteer puppy raisers who provide basic obedience training, socialization and care.

Professional Canine Companions instructors teach the dogs to master over 40 commands during the first six to nine months. After this phase of the training is successfully completed, the dogs go through Team Training and are matched with adults, children or veterans with disabilities. Additionally, the dogs may be assigned to professionals who assist clients with special needs.

Team Training culminates in a graduation ceremony for graduates beginning a new journey and for puppy raisers witnessing their puppies' achievements. Canine Companions is staffed by the finest of assistance dog instructors at training centers across the country. These professionals possess hundreds of years of cumulative experience in both assistance dog training as well as providing instruction to people who may have any of over 60 different types of disabilities. The demand for highly trained assistance dogs is ongoing and growing.

Submitted by The Bonsall Woman's Club.

 

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