Canine Support Teams, Inc

Founded in 1989, by Carol Roquemore, Canine Support Teams provides service dogs to increase the ability of someone with disabilities to live independently while simultaneously providing loving companionship. Canine Support Teams is a non-profit organization, made possible by the many people who give of their time, energy, money and love for the purpose of enhancing the lives of those affected by disabilities.   CST Service dogs are placed with people who use wheelchairs, walkers, and Combat Veterans with PTSD. Our service dogs are taught to assist their partners by pulling manual wheelchairs, turning lights on and off, pushing elevator buttons, retrieving dropped or hard to reach items, making purchases or banking transactions, opening and closing doors and drawers and barking to get help. In addition, these dogs help to serve as an ice-breaker in public situations and provide constant companionship for their partners.   Social dogs are placed with individuals, in nursing homes or in group care facilities. Interaction with dogs has been proven to have a strong, positive psychological impact. All dogs accepted into the training program must pass rigorous health and temperament tests. These dogs are either part of the CST breeding program or are donated by private breeders. Additionally we use rescue dog for our prison pup program, these dogs are giving basic training and then most of them dogs are rehomed into the community. Occasionally one of the rescued dogs goes on to become a service dog. Occasionally one of our dogs changes career and we find them a forever home.