When Anne Johnson welcomes a puppy into her Bellmore home, she realizes its stay will not be a long one.
Johnson, who has lived in Bellmore for nearly 40 years, recently began raising her ninth future service dog for Canine Companions, a national nonprofit that provides highly trained service dogs to adults, children and veterans with disabilities at no cost.
Her newest trainee, Tansy IV, a 9-week-old Golden Retriever, will eventually learn more than 40 professional commands before being matched with a person in need.
Johnson has volunteered as a puppy raiser with Canine Companions for about 15 years — a role she first adopted in 2011 after working as a veterinary technician while raising a family.
“Once you see what these dogs can do to change someone’s life, you kind of get addicted to raising puppies,” Johnson said.
Canine Companions breeds, raises and trains its own service dogs, which are born through the organization’s breeding program in California. According to Kim Doyle, a senior instructor with Canine Companions, the dogs are trained to assist with a wide range of needs.
“They can pick up dropped items, open doors, turn lights on and off, interrupt anxiety or nightmares, and alert people who are hearing impaired to sounds around them,” Doyle said. “What makes us special is that we find the right job for the right person.”
Volunteer puppy raisers play a critical role in that process. Puppies are placed with volunteers at about 8 weeks old and spend roughly 18 months learning basic obedience, house manners and socialization before returning for six months of professional training at the organization’s regional headquarters in Medford.
“We rely heavily on our puppy raisers,” Doyle said. “We have about 1,000 puppies born a year, and all of them need that foundation before professional training even begins.”
Johnson said one of the most important lessons she focuses on is keeping the puppy calm, especially in public.
“There are so many distractions,” she said. “They need to stay calm and focused on their handler.”
During that first year and a half, puppy raisers work on house training, leash walking and appropriate behavior in public spaces — often while juggling the realities of everyday life.
“They deal with a lot of things people don’t see — house training, crate training, teaching them not to jump or nip, and getting them used to loud noises, different surfaces and crowded places,” Doyle said.
Tansy is Johnson’s first puppy to be co-raised, which means she’s sharing responsibilities with another volunteer she met through the program. The arrangement allows the puppy to experience different environments while giving each raiser occasional breaks.
Johnson said one of the hardest parts of being a puppy raiser is saying goodbye, but the purpose always outweighs the heartbreak.
“You’re absolutely emotionally attached,” she said. “You love them as much as if they were your own dog. But someone needs them more than we do, and that’s what helps.”
Doyle said raisers like Johnson are especially valuable because of their experience and long-term commitment.
“Having seasoned puppy raisers makes a huge difference,” she said. “They understand what matters most at each stage, and their dogs are more likely to succeed.”
Founded in 1975, Canine Companions is celebrating its 50th year and operates six regions nationwide. All service dogs and follow-up services are provided free of charge.
For Johnson, the organization’s important mission keeps her coming back for more.
“You know from the day you get the puppy that it’s not your dog,” she said. “You love them, but you give them up because they’re meant for something greater.”
For information about becoming a volunteer puppy raiser, visit canine.org or call 1-800-572-BARK.
