Julie Coles fell in love the first time she laid eyes on Kai, an 8 week old ball of fur brought to her by Canine Companions for Independence. "It was like having royalty for a year and a half. We love that dog. She's the smartest I've ever had." The assistance dog organization depends of volunteers like Julie Coles and Georgiana Watt, also of Middleburg, to take puppies into their homes and raise them for the first year and a half of their lives, loving them, and shaping them to become assistance dogs for people with disabilities. Coles had high hopes for Kai when she said goodbye last November, and the Golden Retriever-Lab mix began advanced training on Long Island to become a CCI Assistance Dog. On May 10th that dream came true, and Kai is now making a tremendous difference in the life of an 8 year old Staten Island, New York boy who suffers from a host of medical conditions that have included a bowel transplant.

At an emotional graduation ceremony held in Islandia, New York, Coles was reunited with Kai, and got to meet and spend time with 8 year old Devin McQueen and his mother Colleen and father Derrick. "Kai will work to make him a better person, and be that special friend that he needs so much."

Georgiana Watt raised Andrews, also a Golden-Lab mix for the first 18 months of his life, and says it was obvious from the beginning he was a special dog. "He was easy to teach. He couldn't have been better. I took him to polo matches, and he adjusted very well to all the crowds. I think that's why he was chosen for Liam, who is a great NY Rangers hockey fan, and Andrews will be accompanying him to hockey games in New York City. Liam is a wonderful boy."

Canine Companions for Independence volunteer Puppy Raisers often form lifelong bonds with the families who obtain the services of the dogs they raise. Andrews is now enjoying a life of service with Liam, an 11 year old Westchester, New York boy who has Cerebral Palsy, and uses a manual wheelchair. Liam Traynor is an extremely enthusiastic hockey fan, and enjoys a special personal relationship with the New York Rangers of the NHL. Andrews now sports a Rangers collar, and has his own Rangers dog bed waiting for him whenever he visits Madison Square Garden for a game.

Andrews will travel with Liam when he plays sled hockey, opening doors, and helping him pickup dropped objects on command.

After spending a year and a half on a waiting list to receive an assistance dog (Canine Companions for Independence does not charge for the dog or any of their follow up services. It costs in excess of 45-thousand dollars to raise and train each dog), Devin and Liam were invited to CCI's regional headquarters in Medford, New York for two weeks of Team Training, where they were introduced to Kai and Andrews. During that intense two weeks, the boys learned how to care for the dogs, and how to use them to gain more independence in their everyday lives. The dogs know over 50 commands, including picking up dropped items such as remote controls or cell phones. Canine Companions dogs can pull a wheel chair, open and close doors and even turn light switches on and off. But perhaps most important, Kai and Andrews will help Devin and Liam become an active part of their peer group instead of outsiders because of their medical conditions.

Canine Companions for Independence has such high standards for their assistance dogs that only 4 out of ten dogs actually make it through their advanced training program. Puppy Raisers are given first opportunity to adopt these dogs as pets if they are released from the program.

Canine Companions for Independence Northeast Region Executive Director Debra Dougherty says volunteers Puppy Raisers like Georgiana Watt and Julie Coles are the backbones of the organization. "The Northeast Region is very thankful and appreciative of all the volunteers who help to take care to raise our dogs and think of innovative ways to raise funds so that we may continue our heartfelt mission and ensure that every person on our wait list receives a Canine Companion free of charge."

For more information on becoming a Puppy Raiser and making a difference in the life of a child or adult with disabilities, go to cci.org or call 1-800-572-BARK.