Community Corner
East Hills Boy Receives Assistance Dog from Canine Companions for Independence
Assistance Dog Judson is making an amazing difference for Evan Golden
Photo: Evan Golden and Judson (with Mom Jodi and Dad Len)
East Hills, NY - Canine Companions for Independence – a national non-profit organization that provides assistance dogs for children and adults with disabilities – is proud to announce that East Hills resident Evan Golden has recently received an assistance dog from Canine Companions for Independence.
12-year-old Evan was matched with Judson, a two-year-old lab/golden retriever cross who has been trained to respond to over 40 advanced commands. Judson can turn light switches on and off, open and close doors and retrieve dropped objects. However, one of his most important jobs will be to provide constant companionship for Evan.
Evan and Judson returned to East Hills after completing Canine Companion’s recent Team Training Class, an intense, two-week course held at Canine Companion’s Northeast Regional Center in Medford, NY – one of five 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 Judson, and is taught to work with his/her canine companion. The training course consists of daily lectures, exams, practice and public outings.
Evan and Judson are settling into a routine back in East Hills. Evan’s Dad Len says, “Judson is a very special dog and we hope to have many wonderful years with him.”
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.
