The Miller Family Campus: State-of-the-Art Independence

By Javier Robles, Graduate and Board Member

My journey with Canine Companions for Independence began in 1989 when as the President of a student organization at Rutgers University I invited them to do a presentation. I had heard of the group through a conference I went to in Washington, DC called the “President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities”. As a person with a physical disability, I was very impressed with the relatively new concept of using dogs as service animals. What struck me the first time I saw a dog pick something up and bring it to the handlers was the ease in which it was done. Guide dogs for individuals who are blind have been around since the early 1900’s but the concept of service dogs did not become well known until 1975.

Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) originated the idea of providing service dogs to people with disabilities other than blindness. What started out as a new way to create independence for people with disabilities, has become a national movement with service dog organizations all over the United States. To date, CCI has placed, 3000 dogs through their regional centers, and has provided the tools of independence through self-sacrifice and hard work.

There has been enormous sacrifice by the staff, graduates, volunteers and, yes, dogs for the past eighteen years at the CCI North East Region. This region provides assistance dogs to thirteen States and has partnered 481 dogs with a counterpart who have disabilities. They also have one hundred thirty five puppy raisers, two hundred sixty one volunteers and nine active State chapters. Upon hearing the numbers, one thinks that this group must have an immense training facility and a huge staff. The fact is that until October 4th of 2008 nothing was further from the truth.

All trainings have occurred in a converted pig barn on the grounds of the SUNY State Campus in Farmingdale, Long Island. The quarters were cramped and staff often overflowed into each other’s cubicles. The trainers’ office was only feet’s from the dog kennels and puppy yard. In became so difficult to train the dogs that CCI had to purchase a trailer to perform Team Training, but this only alleviated the issue momentarily. The question many readers have is, “Why did it take eighteen years to find a new home when they ran out of space in the first five years?” Believe or not, I think I know the answer!
The mission was more important than the surroundings to the Board and staff members. It was not that no one cared, it was that they were too busy to do anything about it.

When I received my first service dog, Tess, the trainers, Ellen Torop and Paul Mundel never once commented on the tight space or lack of this or that. They just assured that when the team graduated, they were trained and ready to work. My successor, Janus, trained by LauraAnn Dubecky, never knew he and the rest of us had outgrown the space because the mission is what the organization is about.

A New Home

The ribbon cutting ceremony and open house for the new Miller Family Campus was a dream come true for many people including, myself. The new center, The Miller Family Campus will enable CCI to expand its program staff, care for more dogs, reduce the wait for a Canine Companion dog and help more people with disabilities live more independently.

It had been eight months since I had seen the facility as a member of the Board. At that time there was cement, plastic sheeting and a lot of construction going on. The dormitories, office, kennels and training rooms were cold empty shells. The Board Members, people like Jean Schultz, John Miller, Amy Hagedorn, Anne Roberts, Sussan Winters, and Nancy McGraw all understood the needs and expended time and resources into building this new home in Medford, Long Island. Volunteers and Puppy Raisers have also been instrumental in the financing and building of the facility. Many have also build a legacy of trained dogs like puppy raisers, Cyndi Perry and Rick Sayers (who also raised Janus). They continue to amaze me year after year with their “never quit” attitude. From Kyle Orent a nine year old boy who raised $20,000 trough his lemonade stand, to Jane Nagy, the president of the New Jersey Champions group, who’s fundraiser “Wine and Noses” not only raises money, but also awareness.

The new Miller Family Campus is a state-of-the-art training facility that has captured the need for space while maintaining a family feel. The parking lot offers plenty of spaces, the entrance is beautifully landscaped and once through the doors, a bright reception area welcomes you. Inside the building is clean with new floors and freshly painted walls. The hallway is full of hanging flags that depict pictures of graduates, dogs and puppy raisers. Training rooms are spacious and well lit and the kennels and dog play yard are amazing (Not to mention that the floors on the kennels are heated). One of my favorite features is the new dormitory rooms. A family or an individual can now spend the required two weeks of training in a fully handicapped accessible dorm room. Most importantly, they stay for free! This will now allow people with disabilities who could not afford a hotel for two weeks the opportunity to receive a dog. These are just some of the features offered by the Miller Family Campus. More dogs, greater training resources, dorm facilities and an expanded staff area will mean greater independence for more graduates.

The new center is great, but it is not finished and the Capitol Campaign still needs resources. If you or someone you know can help please contact CCI about making a tax deductable contribution.

About CCI

Canine Companions for Independence is the largest non-profit provider of trained assistance dogs with five regional training centers across the country. Established in 1975, Canine Companions provides highly trained assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities and is recognized worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and quality and longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people. There is no charge for the dog, its training and ongoing follow-up services. For more information visit www.cci.org or call 1-800-572-BARK