Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / April 4, 2002, edition 1 / Page 15
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THE SEAHAWK/APRIL 4, 2DD2 Local group celebrates champions at graduation ceremony Sarah van Schaeen Twelve humans and their canine companions graduated March 24 in front of UNCW’s Hoggard Hall. “Celebration of Champions” was held to recognize the human-animal pairs that have success fully completed the service-dog training program at Carolina Canines for Service (CCS). The ceremony, led by Jon Evans of WWAY-TV 3, included service dog dem onstrations, an acknowledgement of vol unteers and heartfelt comments from several of the graduating recipients. “To say this dog and Carolina Canines has changed my life is an understate ment,” Diane Godwin said of her dog Samson. “They gave me back my life.” Another graduating recipient, Jeffrey Haught of Largo, FI., was unable to be at the ceremony, but sent a letter to share his story with the audience. Haught suf fers from incapacitating angina pain from a damaged heart and cannot walk across a room without gasping for breath. “(Moses) truly has enhanced the qual ity of my life and has been a life saver,” Haught said in his letter. Moses, a La brador retriever, was able to sense when Haught was hav ing a silent heart attack last year, before Haught even knew what was happening. The dog was able to get Haught to a phone and eventu ally to the hospi tal in time to save his life. The training process is intense for these animals and the recipients, but once it is com pleted they can work together as a team to perform day-to-day activi ties. Potential service dogs are placed into foster homes as puppies, and when they reach about two years of age, they be gin the training that may last up to a year. The dogs chosen for service work are carefully monitored to ensure that their health and temperament meet the strict David Mickler and his service dog Saint celebrated completion of the training program with Carolina Canines. requirements set forth by the or ganization. The dogs are then placed with re cipients. The team begins in tense training to allow the human partner to learn the commands and to help the dog learn how to deal with the recipient’s dis service dogs can turn on lights, open doors, pull wheelchairs and assist with household tasks. The dogs also retrieve dropped small as the back large as a brief- or distant objects “as of pierced earring to case,” said Rick Hairston, executive di rector of CCS. Although many service dog organiza tions charge recipients for their dogs. Carolina Canines are provided free of*^ charge to individuals with disabilities. According to the group’s Web site, the estimated cost of a service dog from breeding through placement is between $15,000 and $20,000. The non-profit group recently re ceived a $16,000 grant to help with these costs from the GCF Community Foun dation, Inc., the organization that handles all donations for Goodwill In^* dustries of North Carolina. “Carolina Canines provides a won derful service because their dogs help (these people) in everyday life,” said Becky Lytle, communications associate for the GCF Community Foundation. Rick and Dee Hairston began CCS in Wilmington in 1996 because there were no service dog organizations in South eastern North Carolina. CCS is expand ing to Raleigh and will soon include dogs that assist with blindness and dogs that can warn epileptics of oncoming seizures. The program now includes more than 50 volunteers and 12 Board Members. For more information on how to become a volunteer or how to receive a service dog from Carolina Canines for Service visit their Web site at www.carolinacanines.com. Customer Trik Turner Trik Turner reciation Day! 1^, Apri 5pm €S Best Prices on every CD in the store including these great CDs from BMG Records. ALL CDs $11.75 ($9.99 member price) with a Used CD purchase or trade-in. (Offer good with this coupon April 6th only and excludes CDs over $20) , 4719 New Centre Drive - Wilmington 799.0079 The Strokes Is This It
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April 4, 2002, edition 1
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