Devin Ortiz
Director of Client Services
Canine Companions
The Dogs
Who Change
Lives
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The Service Dog Journey
An inside look at the remarkable partnerships between service dogs and the people whose lives they transform.
Devin Ortiz, Director of Client Services, Canine Companions
Jackie Cimino, Service dog recipient and partner to Kyle VIII
Emily Zier, Volunteer puppy raiser, Canine Companions
About this episode
It takes a special partnership to change a life.
Sarah takes listeners behind the scenes with Canine Companions to explore how service dogs go from puppies to life-changing partners. Through conversations with experts, a service dog recipient, and a volunteer puppy raiser, we discover the care, socialization, training, and thoughtful matching that help make these extraordinary partnerships possible.
Jackie shares how her service dog, Kyle, supports her independence, while Emily offers a heartfelt look at the joys and challenges of raising service puppies—and the emotional moment of letting them go to fulfill their purpose.
Along the way, we explore what makes a successful service dog, how to interact respectfully with working dogs, and why every dog can make a difference, even when their journey takes an unexpected turn.
Watch on YouTube ↗
Service dogs are more than highly trained animals. They are carefully matched partners whose skills, temperament, and bond with their handlers can transform everyday life. And behind every successful partnership is a community of people helping make that life-changing connection possible.
More to explore
Keep exploring.
Meet Canine Companions Featured guest organization ↗Could You Raise a Future Service Dog? Canine Companions ↗Find a Reputable Assistance Dog Organization Assistance Dogs International ↗Service Dog Etiquette: Be a Better Ally Canine Companions ↗Know the Basics: What Qualifies as a Service Animal? ADA.gov ↗
Episode roadmap
What you’ll hear.
- Welcome to Fur Mama: The Dogs Who Change LivesSarah introduces the remarkable journey from puppyhood to service-dog partnership.
- From Puppy to PartnerDevin explains the Canine Companions journey: socialization, professional training, and matching.
- Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs & Emotional Support AnimalsWhat makes service dogs distinct and the specialized tasks they perform.
- Meet Kyle: A Life-Changing PartnerJackie shares how Kyle supports her independence as a wheelchair user.
- The Heart of Puppy RaisingEmily describes the socialization, confidence-building, and love behind raising a future service dog.
- Service Dog Etiquette: Look, Don’t DistractSimple, respectful ways to interact with a working dog and their handler.
- Friday’s Story: A Different Path to PurposeHow one dog found a new calling as a therapy dog supporting children and hospital patients.
- More Than a Dog: The Power of PartnershipSarah reflects on the community of people behind every life-changing match.
Featured guests
Meet the Canine Companions community.
Jackie Cimino
Service dog recipient and partner to Kyle VIII
Emily Zier
Volunteer puppy raiser
Canine Companions