For the Love of Dogs and Great Wine in the South
Stories of Independence
Growing Up With Canine Companions
Hilary Pircher has had three Canine Companions service dogs by her side over the years and credits each of them with a unique purpose in her life.
Growing up with cerebral palsy, Hilary often had to rely on her parents. But like any teenager, she longed for autonomy and greater independence. She found that and more with her first service dog, Hudson.
“Hudson was a huge source of security for me for 10 years,” she shares. Matched at age 16, he allowed Hilary to live independently in four different cities, go to college and begin a professional career – all things that she and her parents had dreamed about.
She was then matched with Service Dog Geiler, who Hilary credits as the “fun and silly” one. Geiler pushed Hilary to be more active and outgoing, allowing her to connect with the world around her in a new way.
Now, her most affectionate service dog, Data, is by her side each day, working and living in Houston, Texas, assisting with life-changing daily tasks.
Service Dog Data carries items in his mouth so Hilary can propel her wheelchair, tugs open doors and retrieves any item that is dropped or out of reach, all with a wagging tail.
“My service dogs have helped me realize who I am as a person. Hudson made me brave. Geiler made me fun. And Data made me affectionate,” says Hilary. “They allowed me to chase my dreams.”
Impact of Independence
Canine Companions is the most highly acclaimed and accredited service dog organization in the United States.
Our unique and proven team training sets us apart by ensuring the match between dog and human is powerful and lasting.
2021 South Central Training Center Highlights
Here are some of our proudest accomplishments at the Baylor Scott & White Health – Kinkeade Training Center in Irving, TX serving 4 states.
For more information about Canine Companions, please visit our home page or contact us.
- An impressive 52 new teams were placed through the South Central Region in 2021.
- Currently, 253 active graduate teams reside in the region.
- Over 98% of graduate placements are successful.
- Over 149 Canine Companions puppies are being raised by volunteer puppy raisers across the South Central Region.
- The 7,000th Canine Companions team was matched in 2021.