A tall and attentive doodle helps a homeowner pick up a newspaper that’s just been delivered and landed on the lawn. A yellow lab patiently waits for its human owner to provide a directive. A standard poodle graciously eases into the role of a PTSD service dog for a military veteran.
These are but a few glimpses into the lives of support animals and their owners, which Canine Support Teams has matched up. The Murrieta-based nonprofit sprang to life in 1989 and has offered specially trained dogs to persons with disabilities to support their social, personal, and occupational independence.
A recent grant from Inland Empire Community Foundation through the Riverside County ARPA Fund will allow the organization to use those resources for a variety of initiatives.
“The grant is so beneficial to our mission,” said Darryl Howard, CEO of Canine Support Teams. “We’re all in a competency program. We start with puppies. We have the puppy raising program, which is 16 to 18 months.
“After that, the program goes into advanced training, then the service animal is placed with the client,” he added. “The grants we receive help in all of those stages—anything from purchasing the puppy to the food to veterinarian bills to housing when they are on the facility in between the training aspects.”
To that end, the nonprofit’s work is both noble and empowering.
More than a half-dozen programs reach various individuals with varying needs. The organization’s Service Dog arm places service dogs with disabled clients who may be affected by any number of disabilities—from multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy to traumatic brain injury and military-related post-traumatic stress disorder.
Pawz For Wounded Vets also stands out. The program provides assistance dogs to men and women who serve or have served the country.
Yet another unique offering is the Prison Pup Program. Its mission is to “positively impact the lives of select prison participants.” These individuals are chosen to serve as training partners.
Other programs, such as the Facility Dog Program, which provides assistance dogs to various facilities that have a significant impact on vulnerable populations, showcase the nonprofit’s significant reach.
Howard has been CEO of the organization for about eight months after many years of involvement. He praises the volunteer program, which allows individuals to get become more deeply involved with the work at hand.
Puppy Raisers, for instance, is a key program, linking dogs with people. The program is a 15- to 18 month-long commitment in which the puppy raiser takes their assigned pup nearly everywhere they might like to go: movies, restaurants, stores.
Even vacations, in fact. The idea is to expose the animal to all the things they could encounter as a working service dog. This instills confidence.
“It’s an incredible experience because what happens is the puppy raisers and sponsors often literally sign up immediately after they release their puppy,” Howard said. “They’re just right in line for the next puppy. And it changes their life because they know the outcome. They know the impact, the end result, and what that’s going to be.
“It’s a full circle reward,” he added. “We have puppy raisers and sponsors who are on their 10th or 12th or 14th puppy for our organization. It’s just incredible that they give themselves and they give their time to be a part of the program.”
Howard invites those interested in the program, or in volunteering in some way, to visit the nonprofit’s website.
Learn more at caninesupportteams.org.
This article originally appeared in the Press-Enterprise, April 2025.
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