We are incredibly grateful for your support of Canine Companions and your interest in supporting or attending our Sit. Stay. Sparkle. event scheduled for this Wednesday, October 9. We have decided to postpone the event so that it may now be part of our 50^th Anniversary “Independence is Golden” Celebration on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at our Medford, NY Campus.

We apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause, and thank you so much for your ongoing support. 

If you have any questions, or concerns, please contact Debra Dougherty at 631-561-0201.

About Canine Companions

Canine Companions is leading the service dog industry so our clients and their dogs can live with greater independence. We provide service dogs to adults, children and veterans with disabilities and facility dogs to professionals working in healthcare, criminal justice and educational settings. Since our founding in 1975, our dogs and all follow-up services are provided at no cost to our clients. Help make this mission possible!

We're honored to have Andrea McCarren as our Master of Ceremonies for Sit Stay Sparkle! Andrea is President of the PenFed Foundation, a nonprofit that helps empower veterans and military families, and is funded by the PenFed Credit Union, the nation's second largest federal credit union. The PenFed Foundation and Canine Companions have a unique partnership that is helping encourage corporate America to raise service dogs in the workplace for veterans and others with disabilities. Andrea is a 3-time Canine Companions volunteer puppy raiser currently raising future service dog Pilot. Andrea and her family are overjoyed that their Canine Companions released dog Armand (named in honor of Andrea's father) was recently certified as a Canine Companions therapy dog. In her long television career, Andrea won over two-dozen Emmy Awards. Andrea says The PenFed Foundation is proud to partner with Canine Companions to recruit for the world's best volunteer job!

Yvonne Dagger & Canine Companions Therapy Dog Picasso

Yvonne Dagger, a Long Island native and professional artist, first taught her Canine Companions Release Dog, Dagger II, how to paint in 2015. While in her studio one day, Dagger approached Yvonne and nudged her with his snout. Jokingly, Yvonne asked Dagger if he wanted to paint, and his tail began to wag. Within a month, Dagger learned how to paint. Dagger started creating amazing artwork and quickly assumed his role as DogVinci, raising more than $213,000 for multiple charities. Since then, Yvonne has taught her Canine Companions Therapy Dog Picasso how to paint as well! Picasso will be joining us at the gala, come watch how Picasso creates a painting from start to finish, and then you will have a chance to bid on the masterpiece created!

Scotty Hasting

"For me, the demons of PTSD knock the loudest when it's quiet. When I have a guitar in my hands I find peace."

Despite only first picking up a guitar in 2020, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky native and Purple Heart recipient Scotty Hasting has already opened for incredible artists including Tanya Tucker, Jelly Roll, and more, and had the opportunity to open and introduce rock legend Dave Grohl at downtown Phoenix's Crescent Ballroom during an exclusive pre-Super Bowl 2023 show.

Hasting's debut single on Black River Entertainment, "How Do You Choose," details his first visit to his best friend's tombstone following his death, about one month after an ambush that left Hasting fighting for his life flying out of Afghanistan on a medivac after being shot ten times in April of 2011. Narrowly escaping death, Hasting was left with severe nerve damage to his right hand and a loss of purpose as he was unable to continue his journey in the army. The former Army Infantryman with the 1st Infantry Division 4th Squadron 4th Calvary picked up the unused guitar that sat in the corner of his room, opened YouTube, and set out to teach himself how to master the instrument in hopes of fighting the isolation and silence.

Now on a mission to help anyone struggling with loss or their mental health find solace through his music, Hasting strives to connect with his listeners by producing music that doesn't need an explanation. Having found his escape from PTSD through archery and music, Hasting devotes his time and talents to several organizations, including Creativets, Guitars 4 Vets, Operation Encore, Patriot Fund, Project One Vet at A Time, Tunnel 2 Towers, and more.

For more information and tour dates, please visit scottyhasting.com and follow Scotty Hasting on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Morgan McCarthy has grown up with Canine Companions! In 2016 the Saratoga Springs, New York resident was matched with her much loved service dog Dewey.  Dewey and Morgan were teammates in the truest sense of the word.  Dewey helped Morgan in all aspects of her daily activities, allowing her to live a truly independent life.  Morgan was matched with service dog Wolf in August after Dewey passed in 2023.  Wolf is happy to fill the shoes of her successor Dewey!  “I’ve been handed a new ‘leash’ on life—life with independence at the forefront.  Because of Canine Companions, I’m no longer sitting by a window watching the world go by around me, because I have four paws, a wet nose, lots of kisses, and a forever friend by my side for it all.”

Tom has helped raise millions for internationally recognized non-profits all over the world including, the American Heart Foundation, the American Liver Foundation, Best Buddies, Make-A-Wish, and Teach for America.

Tom is also a sought-after speaker, advocate, and commentator who was twice named to City & State’s Law Power 100. Tom has been published or quoted in over one hundred media outlets, including The New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Fox News, NBC, and NPR.

Tom has an MBA from Cornell University and a BA from Vassar College. Tom lives with his wife and two children in Upstate New York.