Community Service Observation

Summarize your community service activity, including how you became involved, your role, and the impact of the activity. (200 words)

To say I’m a dog person is an understatement. Ever since I can remember, I have been involved with Canine Companions for Independence. My mom began the trend and now I simply cannot fathom a life without Canine Companions in it. I have helped raise five service dogs and am currently raising my sixth. I attend weekly puppy classes, go to community outreach events and leadership meetings, and at home help care for the dog I’m raising. This organization is an integral part of my lifestyle. It is a heart-wrenching process, to pour your heart and soul into a dog and having to give it away a year and half later.

What exactly did you do, and how did you do it? What steps did you have to take to accomplish your goal? Did you recruit others to help, or work with any local or national organizations? What was the most difficult part of your project? (300 words)

My work through Canine Companions defines my way of life. The dogs I train live with me and come with me to the grocery store and to the library. They are a fundamental part of who I am. It’s a year-and-a-half investment of the heart and soul.

I teach the dogs basic commands and am responsible for socializing them. I also encourage other people to get involved with the program—I recruit classmates to help socialize young puppies. The more experiences the puppies have, the better off they are for going into service. Apart from this, I go to weekly puppy classes and community outreach events on the weekend. It is not so much work as it is a lifestyle.

When I tell people about what I do, they usually respond with a shake of their head and say that they could never do it. They ask me: isn’t it hard to give them away? It is, but the reward is so much greater. To see where these dogs go and how much good they do, makes the entire process worth