Community Puppy Raising Program

Canine Partners For Life has 40-50 puppies being raised by volunteers at any given time. Loving homes are needed to provide a first year environment that is full of opportunities to learn, grow, and experience. Community puppy raisers provide this environment.

Puppy homes are volunteers who agree to raise a seven week puppy within their homes for 12-18 months. The puppy home is responsible for providing the pup with basic obedience training, house manners, and exposure to public environments. The puppy home pays for the pup's food, collars, leashes, toys (tax deductible) and local veterinarians sponsor the pup's veterinary care.

It is required that all puppy homes complete two reports - a general monthly report and a socialization report on their puppy's progress - and attend two puppy classes per month at the CPL training facility in Cochranville, PA. Puppy homes must also agree to always have their puppy leashed when it is not in a fully enclosed area, to never feed it "people food", and to always have their puppy identified with a cape/backpack and performing with appropriate behaviors in public.

Many people feel that they cannot become a puppy home because "they could never give the dog back". Despite these feelings, 85-90% of CPL's puppy raisers return to raise another puppy after the first pup enters formal training.

How can these people do this? They do this because they understand the incredible impact which the pup will make in the life of someone who has a disability. Puppy raisers are encouraged to attend CPL events to meet our graduates and learn how their service and home companion dogs impact their lives. Puppy homes are also encouraged to visit with the pup during its second year of formal training and in most cases can even take the pup back home for the week around the Christmas holiday.

All puppy raisers are invited to the pup's graduation ceremony and first night's team training dinner to meet the recipient of their pup. It isn't easy to give up a puppy and of course there are many tears, but the smiles which come later and the pride of having raised a successful assistance dog make it worth the pain! Please fill out our volunteer application to let us know you are interested in being a community puppy home.