Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support, free of charge. Naomi Findley and Betsy Knight are Albuquerque puppy raisers for CCI. They will talk about the puppy raising process, as well as the path that CCI dogs take from birth to service.

For more information, you can browse the CCI website: https://www.cci.org/

A lot of time and money are invested in the CCI dogs. Here is an article on research to predict success as a service dog: https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2020/08/10/service-dogs-study-exam/?arc404=true

Here is a video of a recent graduate receiving his CCI service dog. This dog was raised in New Mexico by a college student: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/ptsd-service-dogs-offered-for-free-to-texas-veterans/2476700/#:~:text=He%20discovered%20the%20PTSD%20service,nightmare%20and%20can%20ease%20anxiety

And finally, due to COVID, CCI has had to become creative in getting puppies to puppy raisers around the country. In the past, puppies have flown on commercial flights. Now private pilots have come to the rescue to help transport CCI dogs, as this video shows: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/coronavirus/special-service-dog-puppies-arrive-by-plane-at-love-field/2376210/#:~:text=brighten%20your%20week!-,Sweet%208%2Dweek%20old%20puppies%20just%20arrived%20at%20Dallas%20Love,nonprofit%20Canine%20Companions%20for%20Independence