If you’re unable to attend our in-person National Graduation Ceremony on May 15, we’re proud to announce local Graduation Ceremony Watch Parties are taking place in 5 locations throughout the Northeast Region.
Canine Companions pup Allegro begins professional training after a heartfelt matriculation ceremony, marking a first for Mathews, VA and a milestone for his volunteer raisers.
For more than two decades, an Old-Bethpage couple has been raising service dogs for Canine Companions, helping prepare them for lives assisting people with disabilities.
Three and a half years ago, after her husband’s death, Eileen Lederer moved to Greenport seeking something intangible. That search eventually led her to become a service dog puppy trainer for Canine Companions.
“I needed a purpose,” she said in an interview this week.
As one of the official (furry) faces of the organization, the Nationals are calling on fans and dog lovers alike to help select the sweet pup’s name from a list of four options, including Cherry, Monty, Natty and Tater. Fan voting is now open Nationals.com/TeamDog until Wednesday, March 18, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
For Riverhead resident Johanna Benthal, a service dog is more than a companion. It is independence, confidence and a bridge to a world that does not always know how to approach her.
Join Canine Companions on June 25th, 2026 in Great Neck, New York for our annual Sit Stay Sparkle gala.
“Having a dog around just makes the whole day better,” said Dr. Julia Rosenstock, a Mt. Washington Pediatric attending pediatrician. “There are so many things that a kid won’t do for us that they’ll do for a dog.”
Hampton Bays resident Dorothy Marino is currently raising Jabba, a black lab puppy, for Canine Companions. After several months with Marino, Jabba will move on to professional training as a service dog for the nationwide organization, which is currently seeking more volunteer puppy raisers
It was a celebratory day in Medford, Long Island, as service dogs were paired with their new partners for Canine Companion Graduation Day.
