New York State Sons Make Donation To Canine Companions For Independence

On 11/23 the New York State Sons of AMVETS presented Canine Companions for Independence with a $1,000.00 donation to assist in providing food and veterinary care for future assistance dogs that will be placed with a Veteran with a disability. This is also the 2015-2016 Sons Commander's Project for New York State Sons of AMVETS Commander Patrick Mitchell.

Canine Companions for Independence is a 40 year old national non-profit organization that promotes the concept of training specially bred dogs to help those with disabilities other than blindness. All Canine Companion dogs go through an intensive training process where they learn to master over forty commands. The dogs and Veterans are matched to form a  team, and together they attend a two week training program at the Northeast Training Facility, Miller Family Campus in Medford where they learn to work together. 

Canine Comapnions for Independence Wounded Veteran Initiative provides highly trained assistance dogs at no cost to Veteans and active duty military personnel with disabilities from the Irag and Afghanistan conflicts and to military hospitals and medical centers.

Canine Companions trains four types of dogs to address diffrent types of disabilities. Service Dogs assist adults with physical disabilities, including Veterans from the Wounded Veterans Initiative; Hearing Dogs alert the deaf and hard of hearing to environmental sounds and their sources; Skilled Companions enhance independence for childrenor adults with cognitive disabilities and Facility Dogs work with a professional in a therapeutic visitation setting.

Anyone interested in learing more about this exceptional program can contact Debra MacKenzie, Director of Development for Canine Companions at 631-561-0207 or at dmackenzie@cci.org or Patrick Mitchell, Commander NYS Sons of AMVETS at 631-363-6412 or at pfm225@optonline.net

Pictured (L-R): Patrick Mitchell, Commander NYS Sons of AMVETS; Debbie MacKenzie, Director of Development Canine Companions; Rich DeJesu, Commander NYS AMVETS; Canine Companions Service Dog in Training Odie; and Chip Smith, 1st Vice Commander NYS Sons of AMVETS