Received some absolutely incredible… wait… beyond absolutely incredible news just a month ago from a very special place called Canine Companions for Independence. They’ve got a service dog ready for me! So what’s this all about, how did I get a service dog, what the heck can a one of these highly trained helpers do for me, and all that good stuff.
The Application Process
Thinking back, it’s actually quite amazing to think what a lengthy/involved process it is to get one of these beautiful creatures. I started the application process way back in the summer of 2009 when I was living in a very crummy trailer park in Orono with my equally crazy yet awesome friend and caregiver Robyn. I was getting my Masters degree at the University and thinking towards the future, my how much has changed from those days sitting in a dumpy ole trailer until now.
I can remember one day, when Robyn was working a very late shift at the hospital and my backup caregiver flaked out and didn’t show up to feed me supper that I got so hungry I rammed my wheelchair into the refrigerator so that I could open it (landlord, sorry for the big dent!), and grab a hold of the only thing I could reach and took a humongous bite out of it. Mmmmm, butter!
I only mention this, well because it’s so pathetically hilarious when I look back, but also because a service dog could have helped so much.
Back to the Application Process
So I made many phone calls, researched all the different organizations, and applied to 4 of them. Over the past 2 years I’ve received phone calls from all of these organizations. Each of them had their own good points, some could have gotten me a dog within just a few months but they cost thousands and thousands of dollars (like over $10,000), others were cheaper, but I would have had to stay in a hotel for weeks, and then there was Canine Companions for Independence who seemed the most awesome in every right. The people I talked to were so friendly and passionate about their jobs, the dogs, and those they were working so hard to help, they seemed to be the most thorough and complete, and well… they just seemed like they were the best, so I waited the mandatory 1 year and then crossed my fingers for a phone call. October of last year I received that call, but guess what… there was this little thing called a new house being built and well the timing couldn’t have worse. But then this March I received another phone call, for the upcoming May class, and I must say, the timing couldn’t be more PERFECT!
Team Training/Getting the Dog
What’s that mean? I’ll be traveling over 600 miles to Canine Companions for Independence’s Northeast headquarters to train with their staff and incredible dogs for 2 full weeks and then return home with my very own partner in crime. 2 weeks you say… I thought it sounded like an awful long time as well, but after reading through the humongous white binder they sent in the mail it really does look like it’ll take all this time for me to learn what I need, and for the dogs to figure out who they like. That’s right, I won’t be picking the dog, he/she along with some help from the trainers will be picking me!
At the training I’ll be learning all about how to take care of my pooch, advanced canine learning theory, and the 100+ commands that will take my dog from sitting/staying to turning lights on and off, picking up things I dropped, to unloading the washing machine! I’m so, so excited, and what perfect timing. The weather is finally starting to turn, the days are getting longer, the snow is melting, and when I come back home on May 14 I’ll have a new friend to cruise all over town with.
Yup I’m getting a service dog 🙂 SO AWESOME!
Check out this video all about CCI and their dogs/trainers/puppy raisers/volunteers in action. Got to warn you it’s going to melt your heart!
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Congratulations! Very exciting news for you! I look forward to reading about your experiences with Team Training and getting your new dog. I am on the waiting list to get a service dog from CCI and can't wait to get that call from them with the invitation to Team Training. Canine Companions for Independence sure is a wonderful organization. Good luck and have fun when going to get your new dog!
Great News! Enjoy the time there to get to know your new life long friend!
Hey Brenda, looks like you've already got a beautiful dog from your profile picture. Where did you get that one from?I'm so excited and honestly can't believe that team training is just a week and a half away. I've already been blown away with the people at CCI and only expect that to get better over the next days.I'll be sure to keep you all updated!
The dog with me is Onyx, a five year old Flat-Coated Retriever, who is a great helper at home but didn't have the qualities needed for public access. I had owner trained my first service dog, Savannah, a black Lab, who was an exceptional dog that loved to work and did so until she was nearly 11. As she was approaching retirement I applied to CCI, was accepted, and close to going for Team Training when a friend gave me Onyx when she was 9 weeks old. I put my application at CCI on hold to see if Onyx would work out, which she didn't, so I re-applied to CCI. No regrets, other than the delay of getting a CCI dog, because Onyx opened doors to opportunities that I never thought possible (long story but, in a nutshell, I was able to show her from my wheelchair at dog shows…showing dogs had been a huge activity in my life before becoming disabled). I had planned on applying to CCI 16 years ago, when first becoming disabled, but life seems to have a way of changing the best laid plans so now, after all this time, my dream of having a service dog from CCI will come true! I am very excited for you and am sure that you will get an awesome dog! CCI really is the very best school out there and their facility is great. I also live in Maine and will be going to the Northeast Region.Sorry for such a long comment. I didn't mean to go on and on!
Long comments are no problem at all… That's the whole point of this blog after all!Just keep an eye out for when I make my updates while at CCI.Till then! All
Thanks 🙂 I am relatively new to blogging and am still trying to get a feel for how it all works! I am hoping to get comfortable with blogging and confident in my writing so that when I do go to CCI I can chronicle the two weeks of Team Training while getting my new dog followed by the adventures we share once we are home.You must be so excited to be going in just over a week. I am excited for you and don't even know you! 🙂 I have a friend who is going to Guide Dog Foundation to get her successor guide/service dog and she will be down on Long Island at GDF while you are at CCI.I wish you the very best during Team Training and am looking forward to hearing about the awesome dog that you get matched with. Have fun!
congrats on being in the next graduating class! i'll meet you on tuesday when my daughter and i come up to serve lunch! you will certainly be happy joining the family! it's a great group of people! cannot wait!!
Hello, Bruce Alt gave me your blog address. Caleb and I are old friends; my family has been his babysitter since he was a baby. In addition, I have a CCI dog of my own who has my whole heart. I wish you every happiness with Caleb. Tess
Crazy May 🙂 How the heck have you been? Seems like without team training and Facebook we haven't been been in touch forever. Hope things are going great in your neck of the woods!
Tess… Glad to know that you're following and Bruce is sharing my and Caleb's adventures with others. Caleb and I have been having a great past few days and I'll be sure to write all about it once the rain fires up again… Which knowing this place should be any minute.
Hi! It is so nice to see how much your CCI companion has helped you fulfill your life. My interview was in July (2014), and was placed on the waiting list. I’m so patient usually, but this is so much harder…how long was your wait and if you know how long others waited until they got called into Team Training, I would appreciate knowing how you coped with your wait as well.–Deb