Event Info

2020 Tales & Tails Gala

Thank you for taking a journey with us with us on October 24 to THE WONDERFUL LAND OF PAWS to celebrate and support our mission to provide expertly trained assistance dogs, free of charge.

This was an extraordinary night of giving. We are grateful for some significant cash call challenge matching gifts that evening due to the generosity of:

Baumann Family Foundation
Robin & Paul Sanchez
DPH Fund

All of Canine Companions services are provided free of charge and your donations will help us fulfill the hopes and dreams of those people eagerly awaiting their perfect match so they can live life with independence and confidence.

You can watch the entire virtual event program here.

SAVE THE DATE for the 25th annual Tales & Tails Gala

Saturday, October 16, 2021

Presenting Sponsor

Our Mission

Give A Dog A Job

Canine Companions for Independence® is the most highly acclaimed assistance dog organization in the United States and our unique and proven Team Training sets us apart by ensuring the match between dog and human is powerful and long lasting. Canine Companions has placed more than 5,400 assistance dogs since our founding in 1975. It’s your generous support that allows us to offer highly trained assistance dogs and a lifetime of support at absolutely no charge to people with disabilities.

Stories

Heart, Brains & Courage

Listen to the inspirational tales from graduate teams who have overcome incredible challenges, their stories are heartwarming and heroic. See our puppies and learn the science, technology and cutting edge research that make Canine Companions the leading provider of assistance dogs in the United States.

Joe Latimer with Helios

Graduate Team

In 2015, while on his bicycle in a crosswalk, Joe Latimer was struck by a car. The accident left him a quadriplegic. In August 2019, Joe was matched with Canine Companions assistance dog Helios. Joe— an award-winning artist and motion designer —is able to work from home creating educational videos for Full Sail University distance learning. Joe says, “I am able to velcro a stylus to my hand to navigate a computer. It gets dropped often and having Helios retrieve it—and do a simple basic task—is a real lifesaver. Helios is happy to help.”

Puppies

Cutting Edge Research

Duke University is welcoming Canine Companion puppies to its Canine Cognition Center. They’ll take part in a federal- funded study to assess the impact of different rearing strategies on the behavior and cognitive development of assistance dogs. “It’s tough to [become an assistance dog] and not everyone graduates,” says Prof. Brian Hare, of Duke’s Center of Cognitive Neuroscience and director of the Canine Cognition Center. Ultimately, the study seeks to identify those features linked to success. It will allow Canine Companions to make decisions earlier, to place more assistance dogs and to help more people with disabilities.

David Rozelle with Kylynn

Graduate Team

While leading a convoy across the Iraqi desert, Col. David Rozelle’s vehicle ran over a landmine. He lost his leg in the devastating explosion. In 2011, Col. Rozelle was teamed with his first Canine Companions Service Dog Domi, allowing him to better cope with his injury. After many years of faithful service, Domi passed. Once Col. Rozelle was ready, he was matched with service dog Kylynn. Together they continue moving forward with courage and independence.