43-year-old Courtney was matched with Service Dog Whitaker from the Puget Sound Field Office in May of 2024. Since then, Whitaker has added new dimensions to Courtney’s life, enhancing her independence and providing a kind of comfort that can only come from the human-canine bond. Living alone in Seattle, it’s important for Courtney to feel support and companionship, which is made possible with Whitaker’s presence, and use of cues such as “lap” and “visit,” which apply pressure to Courtney, providing a calming influence throughout the day.

Courtney was born with a rare, non-progressive neurological condition that affects her ability to communicate, as well as move independently throughout her environment. Whitaker assists in Courtney’s daily life by picking up and retrieving dropped items, alerting her of noises through the “speak” cue, ringing the doorbell for her, and even letting her paint his nails, which helps improve her fine motor skills.

Courtney and Whitaker look forward to continuing to grow their amazing bond. “He’s my BFF,” says Courtney.

7-year-old Evan was born with autism and cerebral palsy and matched with Service Dog Kalvin in June of 2024. According to his puppy raisers, “Kalvin is like a 7-year-old boy in a dog’s body,” making him the perfect best friend for Evan.

Since being matched, Evans' quality of life has improved significantly with the support of Kalvin, as he assists in physical tasks, such as retrieving his ankle brace and opening and closing doors for him. Support with these tasks is especially important for Evan, as it allows him to conserve his energy for more important things throughout the day, as his endurance is essential for his coordination and balance.

Kalvin also provides physical support by sleeping back-to-back with Evan, using the “visit” cue to rest on his lap, and providing a distraction from moments of overstimulation by getting in a good brushing session together, or feeding him. He has also served as the bridge to Evan’s social life, being the reason he is now able to attend school in person, and the perfect conversation starter when meeting new people. He’s even helped Evan find the words to verbally express his feelings to his family and peers. Thanks to Kalvin, Evan doesn’t feel alone, or like he is being left behind because of his disabilities.

Enhancing Independence 

Canine Companions enhances the lives of children, adults and veterans with disabilities by providing expertly trained service dogs at no cost. Our dogs are trained to assist with daily tasks to provide independence and confidence. A student achieves their dreams of attending college. A veteran gets a good night's sleep. A patient can endure an additional procedure. Lives are transformed after being matched and working with a Canine Companions service dog.

Canine Companions has placed more than 8,000 service dogs, but hundreds of people with disabilities are still waiting for their match. Your DogFest fundraising efforts support this important mission – get started today!

Learn more about Canine Companions at canine.org. 

About Service Dogs

DogFest is a day to celebrate the joy that all dogs bring to our lives, whether working dogs or loving pets. But did you know that service dogs have different access rights and roles than pets do?

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs are legally allowed to go almost anywhere with their handler, even where pets cannot. This means you may see them out and about in your community. Remember that they have a job to do. Often, handlers welcome questions and enjoy interacting with the public, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

Click here to learn more about Service Dog etiquette.

We encourage you to meet some of our Canine Companions clients and their service dogs at DogFest, and remember these important tips!

Register yourself and your pups for DogFest to receive your free bandana and join the fun!