BOISE, Idaho — Since 1975, Canine Companions for Independence have provided over 5,000 dogs to people with disabilities.
Today, Canine Companions has six regional training facilities that provide dogs of service across the country.
Before placing a canine in their forever home, there are several stops the dog must make along the way.
Typically Canine Companions transports puppies to puppy raisers via commercial airlines. But, since the airlines are not carrying live cargo during the COVID-19 pandemic, Canine Companions have not been able to get these "little miracles" out to start their journey to become professionally trained assistance dogs.
Luckily, several private pilots are stepping up to bridge the gap. One of the volunteer pilots will be arriving Tuesday for the first leg of a three-stop journey to deliver a total of 11 puppies to anxious Puppy Raisers.
Tuesday afternoon, pilots are transporting three puppies to Montana, six to Northern Idaho, and two here in Boise.
Canine Companions Idaho Chapter (CCIdaho) says, "without these volunteer pilots, puppies couldn't get to the important volunteers who give them the most vital aspects of puppy raising."
CCIdaho is always looking for volunteer puppy raisers. If you'd like to learn more or volunteer, click here.
