Imagine being able to earn a Ph.D, but not able to pick up a pencil. Being a mother of four and not able to hear your children call your name.
Imagine serving your country in combat and now being unable to turn on a light. Assistance dogs from Canine Companions can do all of this, and so much more, for people with disabilities.
Stefan’s Story
Five months into his deployment in Afghanistan, US Army veteran Sgt. Stefan LeRoy stepped on an improvised explosive device while trying to carry a fellow soldier to a medevac helicopter. He lost his legs and his platoon member in an instant. Fast-forward to February 2016, when Stefan gained a four-legged battle buddy named Knoxville from Canine Companions for Independence.
Knox is trained to retrieve dropped items, turn lights on and off, open doors and even bring Stefan his prostheses. “I have Canine Companions Service Dog Knox to help me go further. He knows 40 commands to make life easier. In situations where I don’t feel comfortable with my disability, Knoxville makes me feel more comfortable.”
The 411 on Canine Companions
Canine Companions for Independence breeds and trains highly-skilled assistance dogs for adults, children and veterans with disabilities. Since their founding in 1975, Canine Companions has matched over 5,100 exceptional dogs like Knoxville with people with disabilities like Stefan, entirely free of charge. Each remarkable assistance dog costs approximately $50,000 to breed, raise, train and support, funded solely by private donations.
Sigstr is a part of transforming lives every day. With Campaign banners and Sigstr’s email signature editor, every email communication from Canine Companions for Independence connects the public to their stories.
The clickable banners not only raise funds to place assistance dogs like Knoxville, but also spread awareness around Canine Companions. Whether it’s a call-to-action to make every day Independence Day or to change a life four paws at a time, the Sigstr email signature editor is being used to make a difference. It’s helping give the gift of independence to a person with a disability.
Hollister Visits the Sigstr Office
The coolest part? We had the opportunity to hang out with one of their assistance dogs (Hollister) last Friday. We quickly learned that Hollister is a fun-loving dude that enjoys being around people. Needless to say, he was a big hit at the Sigstr office.
Thanks again to Canine Companions for letting us tell their story. If you’d like to learn more, or make a donation, be sure to visit their website.
