ISELIN, N.J. — Somerville resident Tarik Griggs gets up at 5:30 a.m. every day to feed and walk his dog Walter, a Labrador-Golden retriever mix. Along the way he chats with neighbors and anyone coming up to say hi to his furry companion.
While this is now routine, Griggs from a few years ago was living in a “quiet chaos.”
“At the time when I was working, I’ll go to work, come back home, and not process a lot of emotions, not really process the day,” Griggs said. “Just sit down and … veg out.”
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In 1989, Griggs enrolled in the military on his 18th birthday and served for three years. He was stationed stateside during his first year and then sent to Germany for the remainder of his service. The Gulf War took place during his deployment there.
Griggs came back to the United States to attend undergraduate and graduate school, earning an MBA and working at major financial firms like JP Morgan and Vanguard.
But his time in the service left him diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Rounds of PTSD episodes exacerbated medical conditions, and caused other symptoms.
The coronavirus pandemic only made the situation worse as Griggs faced even more stressors. He sought to get help and after remembering a conversation with a fellow veteran about the relief his service dog gave him, Griggs started to look for his own.
‘I’m thankful that I got the dog’
This is when he met Walter. The team was paired together through Canine Companions for Independence at its Northeast Training Center in Medford, N.Y.
“I’m thankful that I got the dog. I’m thankful that we got this routine. I’m thankful that I’m staying grounded and not here, not there. And I’m also thankful the fact that when I do have a PTSD episode, that I know that he’s here,” Griggs said. “As soon as my voice starts to get crackly or like emotions in it, he lays on my feet … to ground me out.”
Canine Companions is among the nation’s largest service dog organizations that provides service dogs to adults, children and veterans with disabilities in addition to working dogs for professional settings.
Other dogs like Walter are trained to learn about 40 commands that range from picking up an object, alerting their handler of sounds, anxiety interruption and many others.
A lengthy process
Client Services Program Manager Jessica Reiss worked in the organization’s application department for 14 years then transferred to the graduate department where she now works. Her main job is the people aspect where she goes over applications, evaluations, and matches prospective candidates with their dog.
She said they typically have a waiting list of around 80 to 100 people but could receive over 1,000 applicants in a given year. However, Reiss said many who submit a request are looking for a service Canine Companions does not provide or are not committed to the full process.
Potential candidates are required to submit pictures of their home, a biography, medical paperwork, and other necessary information. In addition, there is a phone interview and in-person interview before they are placed on the waitlist.
When someone is selected, they must do a two-week team training class at a Canine Companions training facility where they are paired with a service dog and taught how to work together as a team.
“One of the best parts is really being able to go out to the field and see our graduates, veteran and others alike, and seeing their relationships with their dogs really grow,” Reiss said. “Because when I see them here, they’ve only been here with their dogs for two weeks, and then I get to see them six months later, and it’s totally different.
“The dog staring up at them. They are the dog’s person. There’s this bond that wasn’t there when they were here.”
Hundreds of service dogs placed each year
Canine Companions has seven training centers and field offices across the country that focus on service dog training and community outreach.
There are over 50 chapters that serve as a base for volunteers in the area to hold community outreach events, fundraising and other activities.
Reiss said the organization went from placing 10 dogs a year when they first started in 1975 to somewhere between 500 and 600 dogs nationally now.
The Northeast Training Center, which serves New Jersey, is a 30,000-square-foot facility that places around 60 to 75 dogs per year.
Reiss said they are hoping to expand their Northeast location by adding 10 dorms and 20 kennels that will give room for more dogs and staff.
‘It’s really enhanced my life’
Most of the dogs are processed through the organization’s general program that serve people with a range of disabilities from cerebral palsy to autism and others.
Three-time service dog recipient Mike Saverino received his companion through this program.
Saverino has spina bifida, a condition that makes everyday movement difficult. As time progressed, Saverino found his disability progressing causing him to be more dependent on others.
He eventually found Canine Companions at Abilities Expo, a convention showcasing the latest technology and resources in disability products, and was eventually paired with his first service dog, a Labrador-Golden retriever mix named Akirra.
“It’s really enhanced my life in ways that I can’t really even explain,” Saverino said.
Few Americans with disabilities have a service dog
While Canine Companions is among the most well-known service dog organizations, there are many others that serve the needs of individuals with disabilities.
People who are prescribed service dogs generally are referred to an Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) accredited service dog organization. While service dogs are not required to be registered or certified, the ADI and IGDF is generally seen as the standard in training and placement of service dogs.
Based on the most recently published data from the organizations’ websites, the two organizations have 313 combined members worldwide with about 47,000 guide and service dogs currently working.
Less than 1% of the 61 million Americans living with disabilities have a service dog, according to the Lienhard School of Nursing at Pace University.
Part of the reason may be due to high costs. Reiss said the service dogs they provide can cost up to $60,000 without considering maintenance after adopting the dog. Canine Companions provides service dogs free of charge because of fundraising, grants and contributions from supporters.
In addition, it can be a lengthy process.
Saverino said it took him two years to get his first service dog between the application process and waiting list. In the end, it was worth the wait as Saverino said he gained independence and confidence when he met his new service dog, Arbor.
“It was probably the best emotional experience that I’ve ever been through,” Saverino said.
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