Pomp, Circumstance and . . . hand me that lint brush, will ya

I cried yesterday. In public. But they were all happy tears and I was just joining in with everyone else at the CCI graduation for the North Central Region. Some seriously positive Karma going around in that auditorium. Good vibrations, if you will.

Canine Companions for Independence holds graduation ceremonies four times a year. People who have been partnered with a skilled assistance dog by CCI complete two weeks of team training at the regional center. A graduation ceremony is then held after the successful completion of this unique bonding and training experience. Let’s stop here for a second. Those last two sentences hold so much and it is truly difficult to put into words just how profound this process is. It would take a book to hold all the words, I think.

And how to explain the emotions at a Team Training Graduation?  It’s one of those “you had to be there” kinda things, but I’ll give it a heck of a try. Ok, so imagine yourself in a auditorium. It’s a sold out event and late comers are left standing in the back and sitting in the aisles. Now imagine that for about every three or four people, there is also a dog. Except for the occasional dog hair in the dust motes, a casual observer would have no idea that the auditorium is filled with dogs. No barking, no dog smell, no dogs moving around. 

Board of Directors VP, Carolyn, takes the stage and asks everyone who has attended a graduation before to please stand. We look around to see who is still seated, there are so many first timers here. These new people are our future, she tells us. These are the CCI supporters, volunteers and maybe even new puppy raisers. We’re to make sure they have tissues for what’s next.

The puppy raisers with matriculating dogs are now on the stage to be recognized. After the ceremony, they will drive to the regional center to turn the pups they’ve raised over to CCI for the next phase of advanced training. These folk and the pups have been together for the last 14 months or so. Some stand there straight and strong on stage. Others may have a tear or two roll down. For those of us who have stood on that stage, we understand.  How do we give them up, we’re asked. With a lot of pride and a box of tissues, we say.

Now it’s time to meet the new teams. Yesterday’s ceremony had eleven graduating teams, some adults and some children. One team at a time is brought on stage. The individual first, then the puppy raiser of their skilled companion joins them on stage. We’re not going to see a paper diploma handed over here. Something else intended to help them on their journey as they move onto this next path in life. The puppy raiser walks their new skilled companion to them to “pass the leash.”  This is it, people. The proudest moment for a CCI puppy raiser; whatever we did over those 14 months, everything that the amazing CCI trainers did, everything the dog can offer. The puppy we love so much is now in the hands of someone who will love them even more. Our dog, who is not our dog, has found their destiny. This is it.

To repeat what I said before, you really have to be there to get this experience. I’ve shared how I feel as a new puppy raiser. It’s an experience unique to each person. Information on the next graduation ceremonies for each regional center can be found on the CCI’s website (CCI graduation dates).  A search of youtube will bring up some excellent presentations like this one: puppy raiser presentation.

Each CCI Team Training Graduation is a feel-good time, but this particular one had even more meaning for me than most. Fellow puppy raiser, Jeff, turned over Nao’s leash to a young boy and his family. That’s Nao in the photo (top) and the other is with the lovely Inga on their last play date. I’ve known the ruggedly handsome Nao since he was a young pup as he grew up in the office as the same time as Inga. I’ve not yet had the honor of “passing the leash” so I can only guess how wonderful this must feel. I am so happy for Jeff, Nao and especially this young family. What a perfect, blessed match.