SDVWC continues its partnership with Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley, volunteering to build dog beds for donation to Canine Support Teams, a non-profit organization based in Menifee, California. Canine Support Teams, Inc trains guide dogs for adults and veterans with disabilities. The dogs are raised by volunteers for 18 months and then trained by inmates at a state prison. The inmates who participate in the training program have a very low recidivism rate, and many have found jobs as dog trainers upon their release from prison.
Two representatives from Canine Support Teams stopped by the build site to visit us with two of the dogs currently in training. Some of the training demonstrations included the dogs picking up various items the owner had dropped – everything from car keys to a cell phone to a single dime! There will be a graduation event next Sunday wherein the dogs that have completed the program will be adopted by their owner.