received Canine Companion dog

[Guest guest]

THE ARTICLE BELOW IS FROM OUR LOCAL PAPER--MY DAUGHTER, SARAH, RECEIVED A

CANINE COMPANION LAST WEEK AND I THOUGHT THE GROUP MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN IT.

SARAH HAS MILD TO MODERATE AUTISM AND HAS A HOME BASED VERBAL BEHAVIOR

PROGRAM. SHE'S 14 AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HER FROM HOME FOR ABOUT 11

YEARS.

HOPE YOU ENJOY IT. LISA

Tivo and Tash, a pair of jet-black Labrador retrievers, were sprung from

jail this week.

And the bouncy duo celebrated their newfound freedom in style Saturday at a

doggy graduation and matriculation ceremony in Orlando. The event marked the

end of the first leg of a training journey that will lead them, eventually,

to a life assisting the disabled.

Along with 26 other dogs, the helpful canines now begin new, more

specialized training at Canine Companions for Independence, a national

organization

with offices in Orlando that breeds and trains dogs for people with physical

and

cognitive disabilities.

For the first part of the training, the group relies on volunteer puppy

raisers who socialize the dogs and teach basic commands, such as " sit " and

" quiet. " For Tivo and Tash, those volunteers happened to be inmates with

substance-abuse problems at the Drug Farm dormitory of the Palm Beach County

Stockade.

" Most people don't expect inmates to do something positive for the

community; but we want to show how productive they can be, " said

Loyless, a

program coordinator in the Palm Beach County Public Defender's Office who

attended the ceremony. " We want to show they can provide a meaningful service

to

society. "

Known as Pawsibilities Unleashed, the program is a partnership among the

public defender's office, the county sheriff's office and two animal

nonprofits.

Inmates were screened before being granted the opportunity to work with the

dogs. Only those with no history of violent criminal behavior were considered.

" When I came in here, I had nothing, " said Herbaty, who completed

the Drug Farm program and with a handful of female residents helped train Tivo

and Tash. " But these dogs really made the drug farm bearable . . . and it

means a lot to me. It means I was successful at something. "

Inmates in Mississippi's Delta Correctional Facility and at the Bay

Correctional Facility in Panama City also helped train dogs turned in Saturday

for

further training with CCI.

Spending a full day with puppies who must be walked, bathed, fed, trained

and kenneled at night (which can cause anxiety and whining) can try anyone's

patience, program directors concede. But ultimately, the animals give both

their trainers and future owners companionship and a higher sense of purpose.

" Many graduates will say, 'This is the one thing in my life that's dependent

on my care,' " said Kathy Kilpatrick, Southeast Region Puppy Program Manager

with CCI. " And that's something special. I think anyone who understands the

dog-human bond knows dogs are able to respond to you and work for you without

prejudice. "

In addition to the group that is beginning advanced training this weekend,

six more dogs graduated from the full program Saturday, marching to " Pomp and

Circumstance " and wearing blue mortarboard caps. Those animals went through

at least six months of intensive training, learning such skills as opening and

closing doors and drawers.

Kaylee, a smallish, 2-year-old Labrador-golden retriever mix with soulful

eyes, was paired with , a 14-year-old who has autism. The match

seemed meant to be.

" picked Kaylee, " said , 's mother. " She initiated

contact with the dog, and she hadn't really done that before. "

, of West Melbourne, said she hopes the partnership improves her

daughter's social skills and teaches her a little independence. After spending

two

weeks at the center with and Kaylee to ensure a bond, seemed

hopeful improvements would be possible for her daughter.

, said, was able to spend three hours at the mall recently.

Usually, the girl can spend no more than an hour in similar social situations.

" This is a really big deal, " said. " It means is going to be more

in our world from now on. "

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