Although their website indicates that the initial meeting may occur via Skype or other electronic means if you live far aware, don't buy it. That should have been my first red flag. I live in CO, but I sucked it up and made the trip out for my 1 hour interview and tour of their facilities. I was put on the waitlist immediately, and 4 months later was offered a dog, to be received following completion of training in June. I began fundraising from strangers, my company executives and my fellow colleagues. Then, 2 weeks later I received a big packet in the mail with multiple other forms and a list of items required to be brought to training, some of which were name brand specific. A raincoat was suggested and doggie boots were required on the list. I spent hours filling in all of the paperwork, and turned it all back the very next day. I indicated that I had left comments on CPL's Agreement because it indicates that they own the dog and at all times and can demand it back for a variety of reasons, one of which is when the dog is ready to retire. I requested to have the first right to keep Topper as a pet after her years of service with me were deemed by CPL to be complete. Another item to discuss was their ability to take Topper from me if I put their vest and harness on another dog or if I had any other harness or vest on Topper without their insignia. I asked that the Agreement state that instead of taking Topper away, that I would agree to cease this behavior, if it occurred. If the dog is ever returned, or if CPL demands the dog back, as the owner, no money is refunded.
Ive spent the last 2 days scouring the internet and spent $300 buying all of the requested items on their list (brand name and all) except the doggie boots. I posted on my fundraising page that part of the additional $300 expenses I needed donated included the boots and name brand items, which I questioned the immediate necessity of. It WAS a question, but my bad for posing it publicly to my donors I was asking to fund. Apparently CPL stalks your internet presence because they saw the post. Fast forward to 2 days later:
This morning CPL's program director indicated that no changes could be made to the Agreement and that because of my post concerning the boots and the raincoat that they would NOT place Topper or any other dog with me because my communication would not make for a successful dog/human partnership.
I immediately left a voicemail and a follow up email to the Program Director indicating that my Agreement comments were for discussion, not hardline changes and that now that I understood the need for the items, I would be purchasing them immediately. I also informed her that I had already expended the costs of the items and nonrefundable airfare, as well as had my employer jumping through tons of hoops for accommodation (which has caused major, irreparable rifts with my colleagues) I offered, and did remove the offending post, however she emailed me back this evening to say that despite having the cost of the dog covered and these expenses, she was not comfortable placing a dog with me. Period. No further discussion. Not even the courtesy of a phone call in either instance. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black for improper "communication".
Since then I have found many other complaints against CPL for demanding the return of dogs, etc. on several sites, so I guess this is for the best. Now I am out hundreds of dollars, and my reputation marred before generous strangers and donors. Im ashamed I defended CPL when others were attacking them on other public forums.
Dont live in fear every day that they are going to demand your dog back.
Unlike the first person who had a complaint with CPL (Caninie Partners for Life) I had no problem with my dog showing aggression or not doing his job (seizure alert). My dog behaves perfectly. It is the staff at the facility that behave like aggressive wild animals. I totally agree with his description of Darlene's (the director's) abuse of her personal service dog also after the first night in the summer of 2012 one of the girls changed her mind and did not come back. Darlenescreamed at one of the trainers and said about that poor dog ""Get that damn dog out of here!"" and had a trainer drag the poor thing (who was the only one sitting there only there) as hard as she could back to the kennel.
But that is not why I am writing. One of the conditions of keeping your dog is that he is to be recertified every six months. These are due on very specific days.the first two certifications I did just fine but the third and forth times I was unexpectedly in the hospital for several weeks each time. I immediately let them know this and sent the evaluations (which had to be video tapes of us working together at a mall) as soon as I got out. I also had to have vet records which were late for the same reason. In Dec. of 2012 they complained that he was 89lbs when they wanted him 60lbs. The vet said he was at the high end of normal but he was not worried about his weight. CPL has made me put him down to 1 cup of low fat dg food a day. He is a black lab. In March of this year he was down to 80lbs. They still want him down to 60lbs. although the vet (who also raises labs) says he would be extremely underweight at that weight.
They forced me to come to PA from IL costing me about $600 to do the tests in person instead of by video and tested things they had never tested before and then said he had flunked. because of these three things they now want the dog back. Some of the things they were testing were neccessary for someone who is mobility challenged. Go to a refrigerator and open the door and get out some water. As an alert dog he is attached to me as long as he is working, how is he supposed to go from my living room to my kitchen on a six foot leash? But he flunked. Other things he completed correctly, like calling an elevator but they failed him any how, they just blatantly lied.
Oh I got a letter from them yesterday saying they want to come and see how he works in IL but if they don't like it they can take him for no reason. They also want to see the hospital (a psychitric facility). By law no psychiatric facility is going to let them in to protect the privacy of the patients. They are also saying I may not be mentally stable enough to keep the dog even though they knew I had psychiatric problems when they placed the dog. Samson alerts 98% of the time for my seizures, giving me 20 minutes warning that they are coming and about 85% for my psychiatric episodes (something I taught him myself).
I would lose my freedom if I lost him and since he is almost 7 and to old to be placed in another team he would lose his freedom too.
I find it beyond awful that an organization that prides itself on making a business out of the ADA would actually be both abusing the disabled and the animals they place.
Canine Partners For Life Reviews
Although their website indicates that the initial meeting may occur via Skype or other electronic means if you live far aware, don't buy it. That should have been my first red flag. I live in CO, but I sucked it up and made the trip out for my 1 hour interview and tour of their facilities. I was put on the waitlist immediately, and 4 months later was offered a dog, to be received following completion of training in June. I began fundraising from strangers, my company executives and my fellow colleagues. Then, 2 weeks later I received a big packet in the mail with multiple other forms and a list of items required to be brought to training, some of which were name brand specific. A raincoat was suggested and doggie boots were required on the list. I spent hours filling in all of the paperwork, and turned it all back the very next day. I indicated that I had left comments on CPL's Agreement because it indicates that they own the dog and at all times and can demand it back for a variety of reasons, one of which is when the dog is ready to retire. I requested to have the first right to keep Topper as a pet after her years of service with me were deemed by CPL to be complete. Another item to discuss was their ability to take Topper from me if I put their vest and harness on another dog or if I had any other harness or vest on Topper without their insignia. I asked that the Agreement state that instead of taking Topper away, that I would agree to cease this behavior, if it occurred. If the dog is ever returned, or if CPL demands the dog back, as the owner, no money is refunded.
Ive spent the last 2 days scouring the internet and spent $300 buying all of the requested items on their list (brand name and all) except the doggie boots. I posted on my fundraising page that part of the additional $300 expenses I needed donated included the boots and name brand items, which I questioned the immediate necessity of. It WAS a question, but my bad for posing it publicly to my donors I was asking to fund. Apparently CPL stalks your internet presence because they saw the post. Fast forward to 2 days later:
This morning CPL's program director indicated that no changes could be made to the Agreement and that because of my post concerning the boots and the raincoat that they would NOT place Topper or any other dog with me because my communication would not make for a successful dog/human partnership.
I immediately left a voicemail and a follow up email to the Program Director indicating that my Agreement comments were for discussion, not hardline changes and that now that I understood the need for the items, I would be purchasing them immediately. I also informed her that I had already expended the costs of the items and nonrefundable airfare, as well as had my employer jumping through tons of hoops for accommodation (which has caused major, irreparable rifts with my colleagues) I offered, and did remove the offending post, however she emailed me back this evening to say that despite having the cost of the dog covered and these expenses, she was not comfortable placing a dog with me. Period. No further discussion. Not even the courtesy of a phone call in either instance. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black for improper "communication".
Since then I have found many other complaints against CPL for demanding the return of dogs, etc. on several sites, so I guess this is for the best. Now I am out hundreds of dollars, and my reputation marred before generous strangers and donors. Im ashamed I defended CPL when others were attacking them on other public forums.
Dont live in fear every day that they are going to demand your dog back.
Unlike the first person who had a complaint with CPL (Caninie Partners for Life) I had no problem with my dog showing aggression or not doing his job (seizure alert). My dog behaves perfectly. It is the staff at the facility that behave like aggressive wild animals. I totally agree with his description of Darlene's (the director's) abuse of her personal service dog also after the first night in the summer of 2012 one of the girls changed her mind and did not come back. Darlenescreamed at one of the trainers and said about that poor dog ""Get that damn dog out of here!"" and had a trainer drag the poor thing (who was the only one sitting there only there) as hard as she could back to the kennel.
But that is not why I am writing. One of the conditions of keeping your dog is that he is to be recertified every six months. These are due on very specific days.the first two certifications I did just fine but the third and forth times I was unexpectedly in the hospital for several weeks each time. I immediately let them know this and sent the evaluations (which had to be video tapes of us working together at a mall) as soon as I got out. I also had to have vet records which were late for the same reason. In Dec. of 2012 they complained that he was 89lbs when they wanted him 60lbs. The vet said he was at the high end of normal but he was not worried about his weight. CPL has made me put him down to 1 cup of low fat dg food a day. He is a black lab. In March of this year he was down to 80lbs. They still want him down to 60lbs. although the vet (who also raises labs) says he would be extremely underweight at that weight.
They forced me to come to PA from IL costing me about $600 to do the tests in person instead of by video and tested things they had never tested before and then said he had flunked. because of these three things they now want the dog back. Some of the things they were testing were neccessary for someone who is mobility challenged. Go to a refrigerator and open the door and get out some water. As an alert dog he is attached to me as long as he is working, how is he supposed to go from my living room to my kitchen on a six foot leash? But he flunked. Other things he completed correctly, like calling an elevator but they failed him any how, they just blatantly lied.
Oh I got a letter from them yesterday saying they want to come and see how he works in IL but if they don't like it they can take him for no reason. They also want to see the hospital (a psychitric facility). By law no psychiatric facility is going to let them in to protect the privacy of the patients. They are also saying I may not be mentally stable enough to keep the dog even though they knew I had psychiatric problems when they placed the dog. Samson alerts 98% of the time for my seizures, giving me 20 minutes warning that they are coming and about 85% for my psychiatric episodes (something I taught him myself).
I would lose my freedom if I lost him and since he is almost 7 and to old to be placed in another team he would lose his freedom too.
I find it beyond awful that an organization that prides itself on making a business out of the ADA would actually be both abusing the disabled and the animals they place.