Paul Defendini is a volunteer puppy raiser and advocate for service dogs in schools, and on June 25 at Leonard’s Palazzo in Great Neck, Canine Companions will honor Defendini at the organization’s largest fundraiser in the region — Sit. Stay. Sparkle! Northeast.
Natty is an 8 week old future service dog being sponsored by MLB’s Washington Nationals and Canine Companions corporate partner Eukanuba!
Thank you for supporting Salute Independence, Canine Companions annual Veterans Day event celebrating our nation’s heroes.
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.
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.
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.
Join Canine Companions on June 25th, 2026 in Great Neck, New York for our annual Sit Stay Sparkle gala.
