2012 Annual Report - Canine Assistants

INSIDE
THIS
ISSUE:
History of
2
Organization
Current
Numbers
3
About Our
Dogs
4
Education
Program
6
K-9 Kids
Reading
Program
7
Epilepsy
Awareness
Education
8
Program
&
Training
Camp
Annual Report ▪ Fiscal 2012
Volunteer
Program
9
Research
Project
10
Children's
Hospital
Initiative
11
Financial
Information
12
Sponsorships 14
Fiscal Review 16
Additional
Attributes
17
Social Media
&
CFC
18
Board of
Directors
19
www.canineassistants.org
PAGE
2
Vision Statement
Exploring ways dogs and man can assist one another
to the benefit of both.
What We Do
Canine Assistants creates trusting relationships
between people and animals built on understanding,
communication, and appreciation.
A History of the Organization
The program
Jennifer Arnold first recognized the need for this program when she
operates
needed to use a wheelchair for several years and came to realize how
was sixteen years old and diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
She
nationally,
dependent she was on others. Jennifer found it difficult to perform
providing
turning on and off lights. She had heard of an organization in Califor-
service and
tasks. However, she was unable to obtain a service dog because of
seizure
response
dogs at no
cost to the
recipients.
simple tasks such as, picking up dropped items, opening doors and
nia that was training dogs to help people like her with those basic
geographical limitations.
Since 1991, Jennifer has dedicated her efforts to
building Canine Assistants, located in Milton,
Georgia, that has given people greater independence through the use of seizure response
and service dogs.
The program operates na-
tionally, providing service dogs at no cost to the
recipients.
ANNUAL
REPORT
▪
FISCAL
2012
PAGE
Current Numbers
3
Our programs have enabled us to place nearly 1,000 service dogs nationally, reach more than 320,000 students
through disabilities awareness educational presentations,
and provide communities with over 95,000 hours of animal assisted therapy. Last year alone, Canine Assistants provided school age children and the
community with over 1,209 educational presentations, reaching 100,000 students and adults.

Canine Assistants is a national organization.

150 dogs in training at all times

Service Dog Teams located in the United
States, UK, Canada, Mexico and India
QUICK
VIEW

Applications accepted in all 50 States

Applications individually evaluated based on social, emotional and physical need.

The list is prioritized based on need of applicant.
Dog
Breeds Used
Benefits of Retrievers

Golden Retrievers

Eager to please.

Golden/Lab RetrieverMix

Naturally love to retrieve.
Goldendoodles


Easily adapt to any environment.

Work well with all
ages

Perceived well in
public
PAGE
4
Service Dogs
Canine Assistants service dogs assist children and adults with physical disabilities or other special needs in a variety of ways. Some of the tasks our
dogs perform include turning lights on and off, opening and closing doors,
retrieving dropped objects, summoning help, and providing secure companionship. While all of these functions are vitally important in helping a
person obtain greater freedom, perhaps the most impressive gift our dogs
provide is social, rather than physical, in nature. The dogs eliminate feelings of fear, isolation, and loneliness felt by their companions.
"My dog
makes my
wheelchair
disappear."
One Canine Assistants recipient made the value of this gift quite clear
when asked by a reporter what she liked most about her service dog. Immediately, she responded, "My dog makes my wheelchair disappear."
Most Canine Assistants service dogs are born, raised, and trained at our
facility in Milton, Georgia, while some are occasionally adopted from local
organizations or breeders. The majority of our service dogs are retrievers,
including goldens, golden/lab mixes and goldendoodles.
Seizure Response Dogs
In addition to service dogs and companion dogs, Canine Assistants
also trains and provides seizure response dogs for certain recipients.
As with our service dogs, these dogs are bred at our facilities and
selectively screened for personality, temperament, and general
health. Following general training, seizure response dogs are trained
to perform one of the following behaviors, depending on the recipient's need: remain next to the person during the course of a seizure,
summon help in a controlled environment, or retrieve a phone prior
to the seizure when indicated by the recipient. Certain dogs may
even develop the ability to predict and react in advance to an oncoming seizure once they are placed with their recipient.
ANNUAL
REPORT
▪
FISCAL
2012
PAGE
Seizure “Alert” Dogs
Although approximately 80% of our
dogs have developed the ability to anticipate onset prior to a seizure we
cannot guarantee a dog will “alert.”
Parkinson’s Dogs
Trained to meet the increasing demand to provide comfort and increase
personal freedom for individuals who
have Parkinson’s Disease.
Diabetic Response Dogs
Like our Seizure Response Dogs they are trained
to perform similar behaviors, depending on the
recipient's need: remain next to the person if
their blood sugar drops, summon help in a controlled environment, or retrieve a phone prior to
blood sugar level changes when indicated by the
recipient.
Companion Dogs
Like service dogs, companion dogs also serve to assist
children and adults with physical disabilities or other
special needs. Companion dogs work primarily in a recipient's home, assisting with tasks around the house
and more importantly, contributing to the emotional
well being of the person.
5
PAGE
6
Education Programs
Disability Awareness Education
One of our primary missions is to educate both children and adults about disabilities and the
role that service dogs play in society, in addition to the important health benefits, both physical
and emotional, that they provide for our recipients. As part of the Noah Elliott Stowers Center,
Canine Assistants' animals and representatives conduct educational presentations and recreational therapies for various schools, hospitals, assisted living facilities, and community organizations throughout Georgia and the rest of the country. Education presentations are tailored to
each audience and range from a disability awareness program for students to a service dog demonstration for community organizations. With a growing trend towards mainstreaming in
schools and the workplace for those with disabilities, it is absolutely essential for the public to
have the knowledge to understand and accept individual differences. Our Animal Assisted Programs address these issues and the animals from Canine Assistants prove to be the most powerful of all educational tools…a good example.
Animal Assisted Therapy
Canine Assistants provides animal assisted
therapies for those living in hospitals, assisted
living and rehabilitation facilities. The dogs
can help with physical and occupational therapies in amazing ways. Patients throw balls for
the dogs to retrieve. They play tug games
with the dogs. They pat the dogs. They
groom the dogs. Without realizing it, patients are working out. Rather than dreading
therapy sessions, those involved in animal assisted therapy love their sessions.
A student participating in the K-9 Kids reads to Wetzel.
ANNUAL
REPORT
▪
FISCAL
2012
PAGE
K-9 Kids Reading Program
K-9 Kids reading program entails taking our service dogs in
training to schools during the week and having the dogs
“listen” to the children read. The children are given the
opportunity to read aloud, a necessary component in developing reading skills, in a setting devoid of judgment. Scientific and anecdotal evidence has demonstrated that dogs
are instrumental in enhancing emotional well being as well as
academic achievement in students. Canine Assistants’ conducts the literacy program at the schools so
the children are in a more comfortable environment. Children who are uncomfortable reading in front
of their peers for fear that they might make a mistake are quite at ease reading in front of a dog. Dogs
are both supportive and nurturing and give children the confidence to overcome challenges. Overall
academic achievement, motivation, self-esteem, and confidence in reading skyrocket with the help of
the dogs. The public has also taken a keen interest in K-9 Kids, with segments airing on NBC News
with Tom Brokaw and CNN.
7
PAGE
8
Epilepsy Awareness Education
Canine Assistants conducts Epilepsy Awareness
Education at our facility in Milton, Georgia as well
as classrooms throughout the country. With the
support of our corporate partner, UCB, our staff
and volunteers teach children and adults about the
benefits of Seizure Response Dogs and how they assist people
who have Epilepsy. In 2012 Canine Assistants reached nearly
30,000 people through the Epilepsy Awareness Education program.
Training Camp
Week One






Arrival compliments of donated
Delta SkyMiles
Week Two

Training in public

Visit local Mall

Ride Metro Rail

Restaurant Outings

Attend doggie Olympics

Graduation
Program Orientation
Lectures on Dog Handling
Hands on Practice Sessions
Dog Selection
Dog’s first night with recipients
ANNUAL
REPORT
▪
FISCAL
2012
PAGE
9
Volunteer Program
Volunteers play an important role in our day-to-day operations, as well as with
special events. We could not do what we do without the help of our wonderful volunteer team! All volunteers are required to be 18 years of age. Volunteers must attend our lecture classes, which meet on weekdays and weekends.
All classes must be completed prior to volunteering. After completing volunteer training, volunteers work closely with our trainers to nurture, socialize
and prepare our dogs to meet their future recipients.
How Volunteers Help

Work with dogs or recipients

Help acclimate dogs to a
home environment

Assist trainers by conducting
outings in public

Assist trainers with grooming
and bathing

Special Events and Information
Tables

Provide meals for recipients
during our training camps
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10
Identification of Olfactory Seizure Markers
Canine Assistants trains seizure response dogs to help individuals who have epilepsy.
Through a mechanism that has not been well researched many of the dogs develop the
ability to recognize a seizure is oncoming, some as far out as 30 minutes prior to onset. Our supposition is that dogs are not picking up on physical cues from the individual, but rather on a unique odor from either exhaled breath or perspiration. With that
as our starting assumption, Canine Assistants has partnered with a research team at
Florida International University to determine if a chemical marker can be detected by
dogs and linked to seizure activity in humans.
The fact that so many dogs appear capable, in the absence of specific training, of recognizing oncoming seizures in patients without auras indicates that some warning
marker exists. The fact that dogs have been anecdotally reported to alert when patients are nearby but not visible to the dogs makes the presence of a behavioral
marker unlikely. Similarly, dogs have alerted while patients were undergoing EEGs
and those alerts occur prior to any change in EEG tracings, meaning electrical markers are also unlikely. Therefore, the most likely marker(s) are olfactory in nature, a
theory supported by the extraordinary odor recognition skills inherent to dogs. The
fact that dogs known to anticipate seizure onset are able to predict such episodes even
in individuals unknown to them makes it probable that the olfactory marker(s) remain
consistent. The absence of false alerts in dogs capable of predicting seizure onset also
makes the existence of a single unique marker more likely. Yet, very little, if any, research has been done on potential olfactory markers in epilepsy.
Should such markers be found, the therapeutic potentials are highly significant. First,
dogs could be taught efficiently and accurately to recognize such markers in any individual allowing for medical intervention prior to seizure onset. Finally, the presence
of odor markers may well provide vital information regarding seizure causation.
This is a tremendous stride for Canine Assistants and the Epilepsy community. We
would like to thank our partners and friends at UCB for funding the research and their
continued support of our programs.
ANNUAL
REPORT
▪
FISCAL
2012
PAGE
11
Children’s Hospital Initiative
Canine Assistants and Children’s Healthcare
of Atlanta have partnered together to bring
therapy and good will to Children’s patients,
staff and friends in the form of a four legged,
furry friends.
Canine Assistants Therapy and Facility dogs
go to work everyday with staff members at
CHOA who have also received training or
are volunteers for Canine Assistants.
Our Dogs at CHOA:

Casper was our first placement at CHOA. Casper visits common areas and,
unlike other pet therapy programs, may see approved patients in their
rooms. Casper follows specific hygiene guidelines. He lifts the spirits of
patients and staff, giving comfort before or after a procedure, during a quick
shot or blood draw or offers an understanding paw to the nurse or doctor
who lost a patient and friend.

Izzy is a member of the Family Services Department and is a certified service dog for Children’s at Egleston. Izzy can be found in the Egleston Family Library and visiting patients in their rooms.

Bella is a certified service dog for the Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe
and Healthy Children. She helps children who are victims of abuse tell their
story in a safe stress reduced environment.

Button is a member of the Family Services Department, and is a certified
service dog for Children’s and the camp programs. Button visits past campers who are visiting Children’s and the Judson Hawk Clinic.
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12
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13
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14
Sponsorships



Dog Team Sponsorships cover the medical, food and
training costs for the life of every dog.
Training Camp Sponsorships cover the cost of travel,
lodging and food for recipients and their caregivers.
In lieu of payment Dog Teams annually perform 60
hours of community service in their home towns.
Sponsors: UCB



UCB is the primary sponsor for all Seizure Response
Dogs placed by Canine Assistants.
Helped create Canine Assistants Epilepsy Awareness
Education Program
Canine Assistants is required to have a sponsorship secured prior to the placement of each dog.
ANNUAL
REPORT
▪
FISCAL
2012
PAGE
15
Sponsors: Milk-Bone

Del Monte owned Milk-Bone sponsors the majority of service
dogs placed by Canine Assistants.

Milk-Bone Sponsorships are given nationwide.

Sponsorships are set aside for Military veterans.

Presentations held at sponsor venues such as Sam’s Club,
PetSmart and various grocery outlets.
Sponsors: Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines is the official airline of Canine Assistants

Canine Assistants is a Delta SkyWish Charity

Individuals can donate SkyMiles to Canine Assistants.


Canine Assistants uses donated miles to fly in recipients for training camp.
Our staff conduct training sessions for Delta gate and in-flight
agents.
PAGE
16
Jan 12 – Dec 12 in Review
Ending December 31, 2012 our past fiscal
year brought us closer to completing our
research project as well as expanding our
local Children’s Hospital program.
Dog Placements 01.01.12 -12.31.12

Canine Assistants placed a total of 59 dogs in 35 different
states.

44 Service Dog placements

15 Seizure Response Dog placements

6 Dogs inducted into the Breeding Program

3 Therapy Dog Placement (Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta)
Educational Program Fiscal 2012

1,209 Disability Awareness Education presentations.

Reached approximately 100,000 children and adults.

Provided nearly 20,000 hours of Animal Assisted Therapy.

Epilepsy Education programs nearly 30,000 individuals.

Performed over 400 hours of reading support.
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17
Additional Attributes


Expanded our partnership with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Pirelli visited nearly 12,000 students throughout Metro Atlanta
through 11Alive’s Hope and Weather Tour.

Inducted 100 new volunteers into our program

Reached 20,000 fans on our Facebook Page

Added over 2,500 subscribers to our Monthly E-Newsletter

Elected into the Elite Constant Contact All Stars for 2012 for
our Monthly E-Newsletter
A Look Forward at Fiscal 2013




Filming of second PBS documentary.
Continue to expand our partnership with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta with additional Therapy Dog Placements
Create a system for paperless receipts for online donations to
better and more efficiently serve our generous donors.
Create a paperless database of applicants, recipients and donors to more effectively serve those who need and support
our efforts.
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18
Social Media
In order to keep costs low and provide the best care for our dogs and their recipients,
we have started communicating with our donors, volunteers and friends exclusively
through email and social media sites.
Please click the logo to join our electronic mailing list. You will
receive a monthly newsletter as well as information on our events!
We do not share your email address!
Our Facebook Fan Page offers daily insights into the goings on at the Canine
Assistants farm. We regularly post photos and videos, announce events, welcome postings from fans and offer Dr. Kent's vet tips.
Like to receive your news in 140 characters or less? Then follow Canine Assistants on Twitter. Our Facebook Fan page is linked to our Twitter account
so you can quickly scroll through our tweets to choose the ones you like best.
We hope you will join us as we journey into the social media realm. In today's fast
paced, technology driven environment, it is the best way to stay up-to-date on the
happenings at Canine Assistants.
Combined Federal Campaign
Canine Assistants is extremely excited to
continue our participation in the Combined Federal Campaign through the
Animal Charities of America Federation.
The CFC, for short, allows all federal
employees and military personnel to designate funds to Canine Assistants using
our CFC reference number: 10017.
PAGE
Board of Directors
Chairman
Mr. David Scott
Alpharetta, GA
Dr. Drew Keller
Alpharetta, GA
Ms. Kathi Goddard
Atlanta, GA
Ms. Valorie Vliek
Asheville, NC
Mr. Rowland Williams
Richmond, VA
Mrs. Victoria Stilwell
Atlanta, GA
Mr. Chris Brandon
Madison, GA
Mr. Scott Shamblen
South Carolina
Ms. Melissa Summers
Atlanta, GA
19
www.canineassistants.org
3160 Francis Road ▪ Milton, GA 30004
Office (770) 664-7178
Fax (770) 664-7820