When Rebecca began fostering 18-month-old Ellie in Ghana, her life changed—so much so that she eventually decided to adopt Ellie and eventually the two were able to move to the United States. Ellie, who lives with cerebral palsy, did not have access to medical interventions in Ghana. In 2020, Ellie matched with Service Dog Rupert—which changed her life once more. Rupert provides confidence and motivation during her therapy sessions, as well as providing assistance by picking up dropped objects and applying pressure on her legs while she has muscle spasms, and much more.
Brett is a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps, and Megan is a former member of the National Guard. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has affected both of their daily lives, unable to feel at ease at their homes and out in the world. Canine Companions’ Veterans Initiative gave them exactly what they needed to get back in the world and have peace of mind.
In 2007, Stacy was an elementary school teacher who also happened to be raising Canine Companions puppy Boulder at the time. In her class was a student named Andy, who was keenly interested in Boulder’s daily visits to the classroom. Thanks to the teacher who inspired him, Andy was committed to raising a puppy when he grew up.
In a groundbreaking study in canine cognition, our partners at the Arizona Canine Cognition Center at the University of Arizona have determined that Canine Companions puppies understand aspects of human communication from just 8 weeks old. Furthermore, they have findings that suggest that a large part of this human-canine communication is passed on genetically, at least with Canine Companions’ dogs.
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