Five puppies from Canine Companions arrive in Clearwater on March 15. The eight-week-old puppies will one day become service dogs. They will be placed with puppy trainers in the Tampa Bay area before going to adults, children, and veterans with disabilities.
Canine Companions has provided service dogs to people with disabilities since 1975. They provide service dogs to adults, children and veterans with disabilities and facility dogs to professionals working in healthcare, criminal justice and educational settings.
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Trainers will care for the puppies for about a year and a half, where they will learn basic commands like sit, stay and fetch. The next level of training involves learning special skills like opening doors and picking up dropped items. They go to their forever home when they are 2-years-old. Having a service dog can help people with disabilities have more independence and mobility.
