NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio — Emily Cikra-Weigandt celebrated two milestones recently. She earned her Master's Degree in Social Work at Case Western Reserve University. And she also got married to husband Jamie. For each momentous occasion, Dapper, her service dog, was by her side.
"(He is)one of the best gifts I've ever received," Cikra-Weigandt said recently when we met her and Jamie at Great Northern Mall recently.
"Gift" is indeed accurate. That's because Dapper and thousands of other expertly trained service dogs are provided to adults and children with disabilities completely free of charge.
This has been the mission of Canine Companions, a national non-profit organization, since 1975.
Service dogs can cost upwards of $50,000 to $60,000, a price tag that is unrealistic for many people, but especially for those with disabilities.
"Having a disability is expensive. Almost everything that I need costs a little bit more and so money is tight, for almost anyone with a disability, but these dogs are invaluable," said Cikra-Weigandt, who lives with muscular dystrophy. She applied for and received her first service dog from Canine Companions in 2012 named "Dash." After his retirement, she went through the process again and received "Dapper."
"The mission is to give these folks independence, which they could never have without the dogs," explained Nancy Goldsmith, who is a board member for the organization's North Central region and she's a volunteer too, having been a puppy raiser.
Canine Companions' roots are in Santa Rosa, where its established breeding program exists. The dogs are either Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers or a combination of both.
At two months old the puppies are flown, courtesy of volunteer pilots, to puppy raisers across the country and right here in Ohio.
"They care for them, they love them, they teach them 30 commands, socialize them, they take them to puppy training," explained Goldsmith.
At 18 months professional trainers take over. One of Canine Companions training centers is located in New Albany, Ohio, just outside Columbus. The North Central Training Center serves dogs in the program from Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and Western Pennsylvania.
For the next six to nine months, the dogs will learn even more advanced skills at the facility.
"They can get a bottle of water out of the refrigerator. They can pull, they can teach them how to pull a laundry basket and how to get clothes into a washing machine. The mission is to give these folks independence, which they could never have without the dogs," said Goldsmith, explaining just a fraction of what the dogs will learn in that time.
And it will vary as Canine Companions begins looking at matching dogs with the needs of recipients. Veterans with PTSD are also eligible to apply for service dogs. To help with their needs, service dogs are trained to interrupt panic attacks and other anxious behaviors. They also respond to a veteran's nightmares, even turning on lights. They also know how to create space for the veteran in crowded public situations.
Canine Companions can also be trained to work as facility dogs, who partner with a facilitator and work in health care, visitation or an education setting. You may find them assisting in occupation, speech and physical therapy. They're also beneficial in special education settings or with child life specialists in a hospital.
The Summit County Prosecutor's Office has received two facility dogs from Canine Companions. Avery arrived in 2013 and retired last year. Adam is on the job now. Summit County was the first prosecutor's office in Ohio to have a facility dog. The dogs sit with crime victims, providing support and comfort — especially during court hearings or sentencings.
Graduation at the training center is the emotional final step. The dog and its puppy raiser are briefly reunited before the leash is passed to the Canine Companions recipient, who has gone through their own training.
The road to greater independence takes time. But for the thousands of people helped by Canine Companions, the wait is worth it. Just ask Cikra-Weigandt.
"I can honestly say that I never would've even entered the dating world without the confidence that I have received from having a dog," Cikra-Weigandt said. And now here I am coming up on a year as a newlywed. It's more than I could have ever dared to imagine."
Canine Companions celebrates its 50th year in 2025. To date, 7,700 professionally trained service dogs have been placed.
If you'd like to support Canine Companions' mission here HERE.
There's always a need for volunteers! Particularly puppy raisers. You can find more information HERE.
Interested in an application? Head HERE.