Hillsborough resident Shannon Bain has recently received an assistance dog from Canine Companions for Independence — a national non-profit organization that provides assistance dogs for children and adults with disabilities.
Shannon, 18, was matched with Knight, a two-year-old Labrador/golden retriever cross who has been trained to respond to more than 40 advanced commands. Knight can turn light switches on and off, open and close doors and retrieve dropped objects. One of his most important jobs will be to provide companionship for Shannon.
Shannon and Knight returned to Hillsborough after completing Canine Companions’ Team Training Class, a two-week course held at the group’s Northeast Regional Center in Medford, N.Y.
Each student who attends Team Training — held at each center four times a year — is paired with a fully trained, working assistance dog like Knight, and is taught to work with his or her canine companion. The training course consists of daily lectures, exams, practice and public outings.
Shannon and Knight are settling into a routine back home in Hillsborough. Shannon’s mom Colleen says, “Knight is a very special dog and we hope to have many wonderful years with him.”
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 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.
