For more than two decades, an Old-Bethpage couple has been raising service dogs forCanine Companions, helping prepare them for lives assisting people with disabilities.
Canine Companions is a national nonprofit that provides trained service dogs and ongoing support at no cost to adults, children and veterans with physical, developmental and cognitive disabilities, helping them live with greater independence and confidence. Each year roughly 1,000 puppies are born through the organization’s breeding program, and at eight weeks old, the puppies are placed with volunteer “puppy raisers” across the country.
Rich and Sandra Slomovitzbegan volunteering in 2004 after years of attending DogFest events and learning about the organization’s mission. Since then they have raised six puppies and are preparing to welcome their seventh.
As volunteer puppy raisers, theSlomovitzscare for each dog for approximately 16 to 18 months, teaching up to 40 commands ranging from basic obedience to specialized skills. They also focus heavily on socialization, bringing the dogs into restaurants, retail stores and other public spaces to ensure they remain calm and unobtrusive while working.
Most recently, theSlomovitzsraised Fritz, who, as of Friday, Feb. 13, completed his 18 months of training along with several other puppies.
After the initial training period, the dogs return to Canine Companions for advanced instruction before being matched with recipients.
Although theSlomovitzssaid they knew from the outset that the dogs were not permanent pets, they said the separation can be emotional, particularly during the months spent waiting to learn whether a dog will graduate or change careers.
TheSlomovitzssaid that despite the revolving door of animals in the house, they always have at least one dog in the house, as one of their former trained puppies did not graduate and instead became their full-time pet.
Despite the difficulty, theSlomovitzssaid the reward comes at graduation ceremonies, where they meet recipients whose independence is enhanced by the service dogs.
“We come for the dogs, but we stay for the people,” the couple said.
Source: LI Press
