San Fran SPCA Teams with CCI to Provide Service Dogs

There were considerable protests when the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recently ended their Service Dog program. Now it looks like they may have found a better solution.

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June 2008

Canine Companions for Independence(r) (CCI) and The San Francisco SPCA (The SF/SPCA) have formed an alliance to work together on providing Hearing Dogs to those who are deaf or hard of hearing. The San Francisco SPCA has provided Hearing Dogs for many years. However, in order to focus its resources on its core mission of saving and protecting animals' lives, the Society will no longer be placing Hearing Dogs with new partners.

Canine Companions for Independence(r) (CCI) and The San Francisco SPCA (The SF/SPCA) have formed an alliance to work together on providing Hearing Dogs to those who are deaf or hard of hearing. The San Francisco SPCA has provided Hearing Dogs for many years. However, in order to focus its resources on its core mission of saving and protecting animals' lives, the Society will no longer be placing Hearing Dogs with new partners.

Canine Companions for Independence, whose core mission is to serve people with disabilities, will accept applicants from those individuals currently on the SF/SPCA Hearing Dog wait list.

Founded in 1975, Canine Companions has been enhancing the lives of people who are deaf or hard of hearing by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. With 1400 active CCI teams nationwide, CCI trains four types of dogs, Hearing Dogs, Service Dogs to assist adults with physical disabilities, Skilled Companions to assist children, and Facility Dogs for professionals working with groups of people in healthcare and education settings.

Canine Companions CEO Corey Hudson said, "Providing Hearing Dogs is at the core of our mission, and we look forward to being able to serve more individuals with highly trained dogs to enhance their independence."

Canine Companions for Independence trains Hearing Dogs to recognize and respond to sounds, such as a doorbell, telephone, alarm clock, smoke alarm, or someone calling a name. The dogs alert their partners to these key sounds by making physical contact such as nudging the leg or arm.

"We are very pleased to have formed a working relationship with CCI, and are confident that the agency will successfully meet the needs of former SF/SPCA Hearing Dog Program applicants," said Jan McHugh-Smith, President of The SF/SPCA.

To learn more about Hearing Dogs, apply for a dog or learn how you can support the work of trained assistance dogs, visit www.cci.org or call 1-800-572-BARK.

About Canine Companions for Independence:

Canine Companions for Independence provides highly trained assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities. Established in 1975, CCI has five regional training centers across the country. CCI is recognized worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and the quality and longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people. There is no charge for the dog, its training and ongoing follow-up services. For more information, visit www.cci.org or call 1-800-572-BARK.

About The San Francisco SPCA: