Donor Privacy Policy
Canines for Service is dedicated to empowering people with disabilities to achieve greater independence and enhanced quality of life and to improving people's lives through the services of specially trained dogs.
Biblical Foundation.
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself. Do not merely look out for your own interests but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4
Biblical Foundation.
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself. Do not merely look out for your own interests but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4
Canines For Service, Inc. (CFS) was established December 1, 1996 in Wilmington, North Carolina by co-founder Rick Hairston. His experience in raising and training service dogs began with several years of volunteer service for an internationally known service dog organization in St. Louis, Missouri. Upon moving to Wilmington, he found there were no service dog organizations in southeastern North Carolina. Knowing the great need people with physical disabilities have for quality trained service dog’s prayerful consideration began to start a service dog organization. CFS was born out of Rick’s belief that God was calling him to establish this program, not only as a service organization but also as a mission to serve others with Christ-like compassion.
CFS was incorporated December 1, 1998 in the state of North Carolina as a non-profit corporation and is recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) 3 federal tax exempt organization.
CFS was incorporated December 1, 1998 in the state of North Carolina as a non-profit corporation and is recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) 3 federal tax exempt organization.
Improving Lives. One Dog At A Time.
At CFS, our dogs change lives. Whether they are providing greater independence through mobility assistance or calmly helping a child learn to read, their positive impact is always felt. We offer five specialized programs that cater to emotional as well physical needs.
Canines for Service – volunteers raise a service dog in their home for 24 months while undergoing a service dog program.
Canines For Veterans –a national program that teaches military prisoners to train service dogs for wounded veterans.
Canines For Therapy – trains owners and their dogs to provide animal-assisted visitations in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, group homes and treatment facilities.
Canines for Literacy – therapy dogs help children struggling to improve their reading and communication skills.
Professional Affiliations.
Canines for Service is professionally affiliated with the following.
At CFS, our dogs change lives. Whether they are providing greater independence through mobility assistance or calmly helping a child learn to read, their positive impact is always felt. We offer five specialized programs that cater to emotional as well physical needs.
Canines for Service – volunteers raise a service dog in their home for 24 months while undergoing a service dog program.
Canines For Veterans –a national program that teaches military prisoners to train service dogs for wounded veterans.
Canines For Therapy – trains owners and their dogs to provide animal-assisted visitations in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, group homes and treatment facilities.
Canines for Literacy – therapy dogs help children struggling to improve their reading and communication skills.
Professional Affiliations.
Canines for Service is professionally affiliated with the following.
2012 Highlights
Canines for Service
- Awarded full five-year Assistance Dogs International accreditation. "The ADI Accreditation Review Committee (ARC) met today [December 13, 2012] and after reviewing the survey and assessor's recommendation, the ARC approved Canines for Service for full five-year ADI Accreditation." At the site survey we were informed of the following points:
- CFV is the only military prison service dog program in which a dog begins and completes their training and the prisoner handler works with the client
- CFV is the only mens' prison program in which the prisoners work with the client
- CFV has the highest success rate of shelter dogs completing training and being placed (70%)
- The curriculum for training the service dogs is the most comprehensive and sequential that builds on skill level
- The evaluation system for our service dogs in training is unique and makes the evaluation subjective rather than objective
- Industry best practice for both service dog training manual and scoring system for assessment of the dogs in training
- The staff are all on same page with the mission and purpose, know their jobs and all started as volunteers
- Partnered one client with their service dog assisting them with mobility and a new found freedom
- Provided presentations on our programs to close to 10,000 adults and children
- Presented at the UNC Chapel Hill Trauma Symposium about service and therapy dogs for TBI/PTSD
- Released a new program video
Canines for Veterans
- Partnered five (5) new Veterans with their service dogs assisting them with mobility and post traumatic stress disorder.
- Thirteen prison handlers have achieved their U.S. Department of Labor Certificate of Apprenticeship in Service Dog Technician.
- A total of 24 dogs were in training a varying times and levels. Five (5) of these completed training to successful partnering, ten (10) are currently in training and ten (10) changed their careers due to health or temperament which prevented them from completing service dog training.
- The Canines for Veterans program was recognized as a top 20 finalists in the Joining Forces Community Challenge and attended a recognition ceremony at the White House in April.
- The combined services provided to Veterans and prisoners are just over $584,000 for 2012.
Canines for Therapy
- Successfully created and offered a workshop for pet obedience business owners to train and offer the Canines for Therapy program to their clients.
- Expanded the Canines for Therapy program to Smithfield, NC and Charleston, SC.
- Released a SpotOn video about the canines for therapy and literacy program thanks to a generous supports donation.
- Certified or renewed over 160 Canines for Therapy teams in North and South Carolina.
Canines for Literacy
- Served over 50 children in New Hanover and Brunswick Counties to help them learn the love of reading in five (5) elementary schools.