Puppy Raisers

This morning I had breakfast with a group of people from Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), the organization that I am receiving my Service Dog though. It was just a small breakfast to bolster community awareness, and had I known how cool it was going to be, I would have invited you to go with me. Every time I see one of the dogs, it amazes me of how much they can do and how much love they bring.

As I was going through my interview process to receive a dog, several people asked me how you could be a puppy raiser. I don’t remember who asked, nor do I know how serious you were about it so I wanted to follow up.

I have to wait 2 years for my service dog, but you can start raising a puppy much sooner. Right now, CCI has surplus puppies and they need exceptional people to raise these exceptional critters. If you are seriously interested in raising a puppy (or know someone that is), let me know and I’ll give you some names of people that you can talk to.

There are some commitments required when you raise a CCI puppy (like taking it wherever you want and having it play with your kids – and what could be better than those two reasons!), but I guarantee that the rewards of being accepted as a puppy raiser are much greater than the sacrifices. It is a fantastic program and everyone I’ve talked to says it is one of the best things they’ve ever done for their family. CCI is a nationwide organization so you don’t have to live in Utah to do it. You can also apply online or check out their website at www.cci.org.

If you have an organization that you think would benefit from learning about these amazing dogs, (no commitment to donate or raise puppies), let me know and we’ll get someone scheduled to talk to your group.