Cold Noses, Warm Hearts

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By Karen Schickedanz

When SaddleBrooke residents Sylvia and Frank Willett took in their “new bundle of wiggles” — better known as Yukiko, a seven-month-old Golden and Labrador Retriever mix — they became more than just a pet owner, they became part of a very special organization.

That’s because Yukiko is no ordinary dog. Rather she is part of Canine Companions for Independence, a California-based non-profit organization founded in 1975 that provides assistance dogs free of charge to people across the country. These highly trained dogs can act as service or companion dogs for people with physical disabilities, hearing dogs for the deaf, or facility dogs working alongside healthcare professionals.

As long-time animal lovers and CCI volunteers, the Willetts will care for Yukiko and provide basic obedience training until she is about 18 months old. “When we learned about CCI and the opportunity to be a volunteer puppy raiser, we decided this was a good way for us to give back and help people,” say Sylvia Willett.

For now, the Willetts are the only CCI puppy raisers in Southern Arizona, although there are roughly 30 in the Phoenix area. “We think SaddleBrooke is fertile ground for more CCI puppy raisers,” Sylvia says. “With retired people looking to do something good and dog lovers looking to help, this fits like Cinderella’s slipper.” In fact, another SaddleBrooke resident, Pam Wakefield, signed up to be a CCI puppy sitter — kind of a backup for a puppy raiser — about the same time the Willetts became involved with CCI. They didn’t know each other until the organization brought them together.

The next stage in Yukiko’s training will be at CCI’s Southwest Regional Center in Oceanside, Calif., where professional instructors will teach her 40 specialized commands over a six- to nine-month period. If she completes the training successfully, she will be matched with an adult or child with a disability.

Unfortunately, being a puppy trainer for CCI does have one drawback. How do you give up a puppy you’ve raised and loved? Sylvia Willett looks at it extremely logically. “I know I will cry but I tell myself that this is not my dog, we are just one stop along the way.”

For more information about CCI and volunteer opportunities, visit CCIArizona.org.

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