What do we live for ...

me, holding two future CCI graduates - 2005

"What do we live for if not to make life less difficult for each other?"

-- George Eliot

WOW. If that doesn't {help} put into words why so many amazing people work and volunteer for Canine Companions for Independence, I don't know what would. You see, the Mission of this wonderful non-profit organization is this:

'Canine Companions for Independence enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships.'

SIMPLE, right? Having worked for CCI twice in my lifetime (so far!) and having volunteered for them and given to them what financial contributions we can each year, I remain as IN LOVE with the organization and its work today as I was in my first days with them, the first time around, way back in ... oh my, it was January 1991 when I started there.

Me 'n DOLLY, a CCI puppy {seriously, one of the best PERKS of working for CCI was ... Puppy Day !!!}

These photographs are of some of my personal favorite CCI pups-in-program ... they have been or are being raised by VOLUNTEER PUPPY RAISERS for CCI from the age of 8 weeks to approximately 16 months, when they are returned to CCI for their Advanced Training. If they make it through those six months of Advanced Training, they graduate to a life of service to a person with a disability. WOW. Do you know how life-changing that is?

WYANNE "Deakers", Oct 2008

that's me (again!) with CCI pup LANDIS

(now released from CCI's program, LANDIS is working in Arizona with a lovely couple that does Hospice work)

and this little darling is DAVIELLE II, a current CCI pup being raised by a lovely woman, Jill, who lives in the North Central Region -- "Davi", as she is called, is due to turn in for her Advanced Training ... this coming Graduation. THANK YOU, Jill, for all your hard work with this little sweetie. {and by the way, nobody at CCI could tell me that she was 'named for me'; they just wanted to re-use the name since the original Davielle - a breeder for CCI who WAS named for me - died in 2006}

I invite you to attend CCI's Southwest Center (the Dean, Gerda & Trixie Koontz Regional Training Center) GRADUATION on Saturday, November 15, 2008 at Noon at the Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, CA. You will see a lot of 'the process' right there: puppy raisers recognized on stage for their contribution to the raising of these future miracle-making dogs; puppy raisers officially handing over the leash of the dog they raised to their new Graduate (human); and there's even some donor and volunteer recognition going on. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW to attend. Bring Kleenex {and don't try to use cheap imitations - only Kleenex will hold up to your Happy Tears, trust me}.

By clicking on this link, http://www.cci.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cdKGIRNqEmG&b=4011071 you will be taken to the Home Page of the SOUTHWEST region for CCI ... alternatively, you can visit CCI at http://www.cci.org/ for information on their progams nationwide.