AMVETS ATTEND CANINE COMPANIONS
PROGRAM TO LEARN ABOUT ASSISTANCE
DOGS FOR DISABLED VETERANS
BY PATRICK MITCHELL
On October 17, Officers of the AMVETS NYS Service Organization, State and National Officers as well as Long
Island Commanders gathered at Canine Companions for Independence to observe the Assistance Dogs for Veterans
Program that exists to help veterans with disabilities resulting from military service.
Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) is a national non-profit organization that provides highly trained
assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities, other than blindness. All CCI Dogs go through an intensive
training process where they learn to master more than forty commands. Dogs and Veterans are matched to form a
team, and together they attend a two-week training program at a CCI Campus where they learn to work together.
CCI trains four different types of dogs to address different types of disabilities. Service Dogs assist adults with
physical disabilities; Hearing Dogs alert the deaf and hard of hearing to environmental sounds and their sources;
Skilled Companion Dogs enhance independence for children and adults with cognitive disabilities and Facility Dogs
work with professionals in a therapeutic visitation setting.
CCI nationally has a dedicated volunteer workforce of over 3,000 individuals. Volunteer Puppy Raisers teach the
dogs basic commands and socialize them in public settings for the first 14-16 months of their lives. CCI is always in
need of volunteer Puppy Raisers to help in their mission of placing these “exceptional dogs with exceptional people”.
Anyone interested in learning more about this exceptional program can contact CCI Development Director Debra
MacKenzie at 631-561-0207 or AMVETS Post 48 Sons Commander Patrick Mitchell at 631-363-6412. [Click here]
Pictured (L-R) Patrick Mitchell, Commander Sons of AMVETS Post 48; Debra Dougherty, CCI Executive Director;
John Gaeta, AMVETS Immediate Past State (Post 48 Ronkonkoma); Bill Zaganini with puppy Spencer, Finance
Officer AMVETS NYS Service Organization (Post 76 Bay Shore); Dominick Dellorsowith with Service Dog Yaeger,
Commander AMVETS Post 48 Ronkonkoma; Frank De Marco, President AMVETS NYS Service Foundation (Post 18
East Islip); Harold Chapman, with Puppy Bright, AMVETS National Board Trustee (Post 48 Ronkoma) and Debra
MacKenzie, CCI Development Director
PROGRAM TO LEARN ABOUT ASSISTANCE
DOGS FOR DISABLED VETERANS
BY PATRICK MITCHELL
On October 17, Officers of the AMVETS NYS Service Organization, State and National Officers as well as Long
Island Commanders gathered at Canine Companions for Independence to observe the Assistance Dogs for Veterans
Program that exists to help veterans with disabilities resulting from military service.
Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) is a national non-profit organization that provides highly trained
assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities, other than blindness. All CCI Dogs go through an intensive
training process where they learn to master more than forty commands. Dogs and Veterans are matched to form a
team, and together they attend a two-week training program at a CCI Campus where they learn to work together.
CCI trains four different types of dogs to address different types of disabilities. Service Dogs assist adults with
physical disabilities; Hearing Dogs alert the deaf and hard of hearing to environmental sounds and their sources;
Skilled Companion Dogs enhance independence for children and adults with cognitive disabilities and Facility Dogs
work with professionals in a therapeutic visitation setting.
CCI nationally has a dedicated volunteer workforce of over 3,000 individuals. Volunteer Puppy Raisers teach the
dogs basic commands and socialize them in public settings for the first 14-16 months of their lives. CCI is always in
need of volunteer Puppy Raisers to help in their mission of placing these “exceptional dogs with exceptional people”.
Anyone interested in learning more about this exceptional program can contact CCI Development Director Debra
MacKenzie at 631-561-0207 or AMVETS Post 48 Sons Commander Patrick Mitchell at 631-363-6412. [Click here]
Pictured (L-R) Patrick Mitchell, Commander Sons of AMVETS Post 48; Debra Dougherty, CCI Executive Director;
John Gaeta, AMVETS Immediate Past State (Post 48 Ronkonkoma); Bill Zaganini with puppy Spencer, Finance
Officer AMVETS NYS Service Organization (Post 76 Bay Shore); Dominick Dellorsowith with Service Dog Yaeger,
Commander AMVETS Post 48 Ronkonkoma; Frank De Marco, President AMVETS NYS Service Foundation (Post 18
East Islip); Harold Chapman, with Puppy Bright, AMVETS National Board Trustee (Post 48 Ronkoma) and Debra
MacKenzie, CCI Development Director
