The C.O.P.E. Opportunity
By matching specially trained dogs with people with mobility disabilities, C.O.P.E. allows dogs to fulfill their natural desire to help and serve their leader. The dogs contribute to their partner’s independence by doing tasks such as retrieving out of reach objects, turning on light switches, helping with dressing and opening doors. The bond that grows between the dog and its partner offer the opportunity for an entirely new outlook on life.

The C.O.P.E. QuickFacts
• A C.O.P.E. service dog is in service throughout every stage of its growth, development and maturity.

• C.O.P.E. works with the school boards to use engage high school students in training and teaching our puppies and dogs. The students experience increased confidence, emotional self-control and empathy AND are motivated to be successful in school.

• Our dogs help elementary school children learn math and reading as they psychologically mature and practice their skills in public.

• Our volunteer youth gain leadership skills and a sense of achievement that they have contributed to their community.

• Stable and committed volunteer “Puppy Raiser” homes are required for the dogs whenever they are not working with their youth trainers during the 2 year preparation period.

• It takes C.O.P.E. approx $22,000 to raise, train and deliver dogs to their career life partners.

• Major C.O.P.E. sponsors can name a dog!

• COPE is a registered charity and all donations are tax-deductible.

• After 2 years of training, C.O.P.E. dogs become reliable, assistive companions to people with disabilities.

• C.O.P.E. dogs often provide the motivation for a new outlook on life for their partners.

How do we do it?
A C.O.P.E. service dog must complete a training period of approximately two years before placement with a disabled Life Partner or a family in which people living with a disability can benefit from an assistance dog.
Through C.O.P.E’s youth programs, secondary school students at risk of leaving school early benefit from an opportunity to engage with our dogs individually and as a group.  Each selected student is matched with a C.O.P.E. puppy and completes a training course that will teach the dog over 90 commands including how to open doors, turn on lights, assist in an emergency or help with dressing and undressing. Elementary school students struggling with literacy and numeracy improve and excel through participating in the Reading Buddy / Math Partners program. In addition to visiting local elementary schools, the Youth Trainers and their puppies and dogs-in-training make therapy visits to local retirement homes and long term care facilities. As the dogs graduate the students “turn over the leash” to people with disabilities who now have access to broader physical and social opportunities, owing to these assistive and therapeutic animals.

Statistics
Currently, C.O.P.E. Service Dogs offers the High School Assistance Dog Program in 3 Barrie-area high schools. At any one time, five to seven public and Catholic elementary schools participate in our Reading Buddy / Math Partner Programs.
Since 2003, through our Placement Program, C.O.P.E. Service Dogs has matched 22 dogs with individuals and families living with disabilities. In 2009, C.O.P.E. had 16 dogs-in-training, and over 40 trainers. We also have over 50 active volunteers including Puppy Raiser families and Puppy Sitter families.

History
In 2000, Jane Boake founded Canine Opportunity, People Empowerment (C.O.P.E.) near Barrie, Ontario, Canada, after training with Dr. Bonnie Bergin. Dr. Bergin developed the concept of the Service Dog to assist people with mobility impairments in 1975. At that time she founded Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) the first non-profit organization to train and place Service Dogs. After leaving CCI in 1991, Dr. Bergin founded the Assistance Dog Institute (ADI) which is now a division of the Bergin University of Canine Studies. www.berginu.org

Bergin University of Canine Studies educates and researches ways to “help dogs help people”, and teaches participants about all aspects of the Service Dog industry. Since 1999, when Jane completed her training there, two more C.O.P.E. Instructors have graduated from Bergin University and continue to “help students, help dogs to help people” here at C.O.P.E. Service Dogs