Canine Companions 2018 Annual Report
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Annual Report 2018 Contents Living ii Living Our Core Values Our Core Values Canine Companions for Independence has 1 The Ripple Effect of Our articulated core values that serve as our foundation Mission as we continue to excel as the leader in the assistance dog industry, advocate for our graduates 2 Changing Lives and serve as a resource for our communities. One Assistance Dog at a Time Teamwork 5 One Family We believe in the joyful, Makes a Big Impact transformative power of the 7 Serving Those human-canine partnership. Who Have Served Our Country 9 Bringing Healing and Smiles Compassionate Service to Mayo Clinic We act with respect, empathy and collaboration in service of 10 Supporting Our Mission Through the Years our community, our constituents and each other. 11 Building a New Campus 13 A Better Understanding Integrity of Our Dogs We do what is right guided 14 Working Together by honesty, accountability for Greater Independence and sincerity. 16 Financials 18 Honor Roll of Donors Community 30 Volunteer Puppy Raisers We practice inclusion and & Breeder Caretakers acceptance to build impactful relationships within our diverse community. Excellence We conduct ourselves with professionalism in pursuit of the highest standards. Innovation We reinvent possibility to unleash our greatest potential. ii CANINE COMPANIONS 2018 | CCI.ORG The Ripple Effect of Our Mission 2018 was a spectacular year, and we’re so thankful kicked off a national capital campaign for a new you were a part of it. It’s with great pride we campus in our North Central Region. Through this share some highlights of the year: We placed 337 campaign, we received support and donations expertly-trained assistance dogs and 47 working from across the country, with each donor dogs with other agencies; our professional trainers contributing to our national mission. We also made over 1,200 in-person visits with graduate graduated our first class of service dogs trained teams as part of our on-going support program; to assist veterans to mitigate the symptoms and our community helped raise over $20 million of post-traumatic stress disorder at our Jean in revenue plus $15.4 million from bequests. and Charles Schulz Campus. These are big It is your dedication to our mission that makes accomplishments, and we couldn’t have achieved Canine Companions a strong and steadfast them without you! organization that not only makes an impact on As you read the 2018 annual report, take a individuals, but also on the families, friends and moment to reflect on the lives you’ve changed: communities of our graduate teams. There is a the young boy who has help with his leg braces, ripple effect — so many lives are touched by one the woman who is alerted to the fire alarm and Canine Companions assistance dog. And because the veteran who is now comfortable socializing of supporters like you, we are truly changing lives. in public. Each year we evaluate how we’ve grown, You made this possible, and we thank you. We determine where we can improve and explore have much more to accomplish together, and we better ways to serve our community. As part of look forward to working with you every step of this process, we’ve identified six core values that the way to expand the ripples of our mission. will be incorporated in all aspects of our mission. Sincerely, In addition, we are working with our national board of directors to develop a comprehensive five-year strategic plan that will allow us to reach our long-range goals, which include more teams, Paige Mazzoni, John McKinney, dynamic growth and scalability, CEO National Board Chair and sustainable funding. To help achieve our ambitious goals, we CANINE COMPANIONS 2018 | CCI.ORG 1 Changing Lives One Assistance Dog at a Time Canine Companions for Independence assistance dogs are expertly trained in over 40 commands to help children, adults and veterans with disabilities live more independent lives. While the people we serve have different disabilities, Canine Companions assistance dogs can meet their needs and impact their lives in powerful ways. Most common disabilities served since 1975 Cerebral Palsy 19% Neuromuscular/Muscular Disability 16% Paralysis 11% Deaf/Hard of Hearing 12% Autism Spectrum Disorder 9% Neurological Disorder 6% Developmental or Cognitive Disability 6% PTSD 3% Other 18% Assistance dog teams in 2018 Across the nation, people with disabilities are beginning lives of increased independence and confidence with their new assistance dogs, provided free of charge. 263 Adults 74 Children 2,399 Active teams 2 CANINE COMPANIONS 2018 | CCI.ORG Types of assistance dog teams placed in 2018 150 130 120 87 90 79 60 43 34 30 7 0 Excellence Service Skilled Facility Hearing PTSD Working dog teams companion dog teams dog teams service agency teams dog teams placements* *Dogs from the Canine Companions program that are transferred to another organization or agency that utilizes them in a working capacity. Milestones of excellence In 2018, Canine Companions reached an important milestone by matching our 6,000th assistance dog. From our first team to our 6,000th, Canine Companions graduates have benefited from our extraordinary program. Shawn & Melissa Julian & Gemini 6,000th “Team Training keeps team “Gemini makes me feel getting better. They like a regular kid,” says keep learning new ways Julian. “She gives me to teach us and help us licks and lets me pet out. It’s an overwhelming her. But she also is a experience, a tough hard worker who helps two weeks, but I feel me walk and encourages comfortable here and ready to learn.” me to keep trying when I feel discouraged.” Training and support in 2018 Canine Companions is committed to the success of our graduate teams. Our professional trainers and follow-up support set our organization apart from other assistance dog providers. In-person Graduates Instructors 49 1,299 follow-ups 6,022 since 1975 CANINE COMPANIONS 2018 | CCI.ORG 3 4 CANINE COMPANIONS 2018 | CCI.ORG One Family Makes a Big Impact Erika Dold began volunteering several years ago. “My love of animals and the opportunity to really give back led me to Canine Companions,” explains Erika. Eventually, she and her husband, Dr. Chris Dold, a veterinarian and SeaWorld Orlando’s chief zoological officer, made the decision to become volunteer puppy raisers and wanted to share the Community experience with their children. It was an opportunity to give back to their community as a family. “This means the world to us,” says Erika. “To teach our kids kindness, selflessness and learning how to make a difference in the lives of those with disabilities.” The Dolds raised Canine Companions puppy Natalia, who was matched as a hearing dog with Scott of Charlotte, NC. Expertly trained in nearly 40 commands, Natalia is able to alert Scott to fire alarms, cell phones, voices and more. The effort of the Dold family is allowing Scott to live a more independent and full life. “Natalia makes me “Natalia makes me feel confident, and my life has changed since I was matched with her. I am so grateful for puppy raisers. They are feel confident, and the lifeline of this organization,” says Scott. my life has changed Raising puppies for Canine Companions becomes a way of since I was matched life for many of our volunteers. In 2018, the Dolds raised Canine with her. I am so Companions puppy Hale. He was the third puppy they have raised for our organization. grateful for puppy While it is always bittersweet to say goodbye, the Dolds know raisers. They are the puppies are destined for greater things — to be matched with a the lifeline of this person with a disability. “When you see it come full circle, it’s so rewarding,” explains organization.” Erika. “Raising a puppy is a part of our daily lives. It’s the biggest —Scott, shown above, with gift and a team effort for our family.” Hearing Dog Natalia Learn more about puppy raising at cci.org/raise. Raising puppies and changing lives in 2018 Volunteer The estimated Puppies entered puppy raisers value of the hours professional 1,360+ and breeder $20M+ our puppy raisers 816 training caretakers provided in 2018. CANINE COMPANIONS 2018 | CCI.ORG 5 6 CANINE COMPANIONS 2018 | CCI.ORG Serving Those Who Have Served Our Country As a result of multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Marine Who we serve Corps veteran Bruce has pain from fibromyalgia and post-traumatic All branches of the U.S. stress disorder (PTSD) which have impacted his life for many years. military are represented in Hoping to alleviate his symptoms, Bruce applied for a service our active graduate veteran dog from Canine Companions. In October, he was matched with teams. We will continue to Service Dog Wembley and graduated with our first class of veterans support these teams and with PTSD. The results of this placement have been powerful. provide all follow-up services “Because Wembley has been trained in specific commands, free of charge throughout such as ‘front,’ ‘light,’ ‘behind’ and nightmare interruption, my the life of the team. PTSD symptoms no longer control my life,” explains Bruce. Canine Companions dogs in our PTSD program are selected three months into professional training and spend an additional three to six months in specialized training with our instructors. They learn how to enter a room ahead of their handler to turn on lights, Service Compassionate retrieve items from a distance, interrupt nightmares and symptoms of anxiety, as well as perform positional commands that help their handler feel more comfortable in public. Bruce says, “Wembley is now an integral part of my daily life.