Hard to say goodbye....

Photos: Volunteer Puppy Raiser Debbie Alexander and Ryder

Canine Companions Graduate Katie Miller and Ryder

Ramsey, NJ - Canine Companions for Independence – a national non-profit organization that provides assistance dogs for children and adults with disabilities – is proud to announce that Katie Miller of the Phillips Programs for Children & Families in Arlington, Virginia has recently received a Canine Companions Facility Dog.
Katie was matched with Ryder, a two-year-old Labrador retriever who has been trained to respond to over 40 advanced commands. Ryder can turn light switches on and off, open and close doors and retrieve dropped objects. But Ryder’s new job will be assisting Katie as she works with special needs students and she will be an integral part of her student’s therapy plans.
Much of the thanks for this successful match goes to Canine Companions for Independence volunteer puppy raiser Debbie Alexander of Ramsey, NJ (Debbie is a 9-time Canine Companions for Independence puppy raiser, currently raising puppy Pender). Debbie raised Ryder from an 8 week old puppy, and said goodbye to her after a year and a half. Debbie worked tirelessly with Ryder, teaching her basic commands, and the all-important socialization skills. When she was old enough to begin advanced training, Debbie returned Ryder to the Canine Companions Northeast Regional Headquarters on Long Island where she worked for 6 months with the organizations nationally renowned instructors, learning over 40 advanced commands.
Katie and Ryder were matched after completing Canine Companion’s recent Team Training Class, an intense, two-week course held at the organization’s Northeast Regional Center in Medford, NY – one of six such centers nationwide. The Northeast Regional Center serves a 13-state area from Maine to Virginia.
Each student who attends Team Training – held at each center four times a year – is paired with a fully trained, working assistance dog, like Ryder, and is taught to work with his/her canine companion. The training course consists of daily lectures, exams, practice and public outings.
Katie and Ryder are settling into a routine back home at the Phillips Programs for Children & Families in Arlington. Katie says, “Ryder is a very special dog and I hope to have many wonderful years with her. I can’t thank Debbie Alexander enough”.

ABOUT CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE: Canine Companions for Independence is the largest non-profit provider of trained assistance dogs with six regional training centers across the country. Established in 1975, Canine Companions provides highly trained assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities and is recognized worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and quality and longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people. There is no charge for the dog, its training and on-going follow-up services. For more information, visit cci.org or call 1-800-572-BARK.