Welcoming our Canine Companion

Welcome Athens II to our staff. Athens was placed with our Director, Elizabeth Moore, in August 2019 by Canine Companions for Independence©. Founded in 1975, Canine Companions© is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships.

Canine Companions© selectively breeds Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and a cross of the two. Canine Companions© train four types of assistance dogs. Service dogs assist adults with disabilities by performing daily tasks. Hearing dogs alert their partners who are deaf or hard of hearing to important sounds. Skilled Companions enhance independence for children and adults with physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities. Facility dogs assist clients in a visitation, education, criminal justice, or health care settings. All of these dogs receive two years of training.

Athens is a service trained facility dog that works in a criminal justice setting. Athens uses his commands and behaviors to mitigate the stresses and anxiety of crime victims, witnesses, and others during all stages of the legal proceedings, including accompaniment during interviews and court hearings.

Canine Companions© is an amazing organization that places these talented dogs free of charge with people and facilities where they provide support, comfort, and joy to hundreds. For more information on Canine Companions©, visit cci.org.