I've been thinking of starting a blog for my Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) Breeder, Chandra for a long time. With exciting news yesterday I have decided to start writing a blog for my CCI Breeders! It will keep you up to date on their adventures and puppies!

Canine Companions for Independence breeds and trains service dogs for people with disabilities free of charge. http://www.cci.org
From CCI's website about their 4 types of Service Dogs:
Types of Assistance Teams
Service Teams — Adults with physical disabilities who work with a Canine Companion to extend their abilities and utilize the dog to perform physical tasks such as pulling a wheelchair and retrieving dropped items.
Skilled Companion Teams — A three-part team including a child or adult with physical, developmental or emotional disabilities, a primary caretaker, and a Canine Companion who helps with physical tasks and creates a bond of companionship, affection and love.
Facility Teams — Adults who work as rehabilitation professionals, caregivers or educators and utilize a Canine Companion to improve the mental, physical or emotional health of those in their care.
Hearing Teams — Adults who are hard of hearing or Deaf who use a Canine Companion to alert them to everyday sounds such as doorbells, alarm clocks and smoke alarms.

I have been raising puppies for CCI since my junior year in high school, the dogs I have raised are:

Kedra (Neffa x Washaki) COC 4/03
Hiltie (OMSI x Taiko) SC 2/05
Chandra (OMSI x GDB Natalie) Breeder 10/05
McKenna II (Terrell x Happy II) COC-Medical 7/07
Omeeka (Blaze III x Chandra) Breeder 4/08

COC= Change of Career
SC= Skilled Companion

I have been fortunate for CCI to give me my CCI breeder Chandra (aka Shawn), she is a WONDERFUL dog and we love her! To see pictures of Chandra's puppies go to http://www.chandracci.shutterfly.com and videos at http://www.youtube.com/hiltie03

Chandra has had 3 litters for CCI so far:

"O" Litter- BLAZE III 7-15-06 - Golden Retrievers

OMARI II
ONTARO
OMSI III-Breeder 4/08
OJALA-COC
OMYA-COC
OASIS II
OMEEKA-Breeder 4/08

"R" Litter- TERRELL 3-2-07 - 3/4 Golden Retriever
RHIANNA
RIDER
RICHIE II
ROOKIE II
REGGIE II
RAINIE
ROXA II
REGAL III

"A" - KITTREDGE- 10-6-07 Golden Retriever
ASJHA
AMYA
AKEELAH
ASHANTI
AYRTON
AMARI II
AYLA II
ALANIS

"M" - RANDY IV 5-17-08 Golden Retriever
MALIKA
MCKENZIE IV
MAVERICK
MICHAEL II
MONARCH II
MARI
MEEKA



Yesterday Omeeka (the 5th puppy I raised with the help of our local CCI chapter, the GRC or Gold Rush Champions) was chosen as a breeder! I am not able to take back a female CCI breeder, even though puppies are fun, they are a lot of work and I have been fortunate again to have a great support group that has helped me with Chandra and her litters! I couldn't do it without them.

I will be taking Chandra's 3rd born puppy OMSI III back as a breeder!!! OMSI is named after his grandfather OMSI (Chandra's dad) who is named after the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, so his name is all capitalized. OMSI is getting a ride home from CCI on MondayApril 21!! YAY! I can't wait to get him home :)