ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—Several hundred people were treated to a cavalcade of canines and exotic cars when the Second Annual Auto Show to benefit Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) was held at the Englewood Field Club.
CCI is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to raising and training assistance dogs for the disabled. The show was organized by Caryl Swain and Ivan and Mary Arguello, dedicated dog lovers who have raised several service puppies of their own. Through CCI, thousands of dogs are given free to people with physical disabilities and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Several of these owners were on hand to tell their stories and demonstrate the chores performed by their beloved companions.
Among the throng of attendees were Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes, Tenafly Councilman Mark Zinna, and Englewood Chamber of Commerce President Carol Rauscher.
In a festive fundraising gesture, Wildes and Zinna joined Swain and the Arguellos in auctioning off a beautiful acrylic painting that had been made by a service dog, “Doggie DaVinci.”
Adding to the festive atmosphere, former Englewood Councilman Scott Reddin served as the event’s DJ and Dietz & Watson provided freshly grilled sausages and hot dogs.
The dual attraction of the day was evident as soon as people entered the Englewood Field Club. They were greeted by a gigantic inflated dog as well as many dog owners walking their prized pets; then, just beyond the entrance to the club, there was an impressive display of motorized marvels. There were Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porsches and a flashy black and white camouflage BMW, as well as a vintage Packard, a Pierce-Arrow and an Auburn dating back to the 1930s.
Alex Hutchinson, a professional CCI trainer, showed how Heidi, the black lab service dog she has trained, protects its owner by loudly barking. Heidi also responded to commands to retrieve a rubber disk and a black garbage bag, among myriad other tasks.
Last year’s biggest CCI corporate sponsor was Pepsi Cola, so to thank them, Canine Companions has named a puppy “Pepsi.” Now 3 months old, she was a hit at the show.
The program featured two service dog owners whose stories were gripping.
The first speaker was Tom Prin, a courageous New York City firefighter who had responded to the horrific events of Sept. 11, 2001. His unit returned to the debris at the World Trade Center for months of clean-up and recovery, embodying the firefighters’ oath of bravery, pride and a willingness to serve unselfishly.
But Prin suffered a tragic event in 2005. When climbing the fire escape of a burning building, a ladder gave out, and Tom fell two stories, fracturing a vertebra and ending his career. Despite five surgeries, his injuries caused 10 years of chronic pain, making bending down and everyday tasks challenging.
After finally convincing himself to seek help, Prin was paired with service dog Halona in 2015. Halona had a story of her own. She was a 15-month-old puppy when her volunteer puppy raisers, the King family, arrived at a vacation beach rental. Halona was always eager to please, but that day, she clearly showed her reluctance to ascend the stairs. Once inside, she paced and remained unsettled. At 1:30 a.m., she woke everyone with incessant barking from her crate. The house was burning from an overheating dehumidifier that had likely been smoldering since their arrival. Half of the family members were able to escape and call the local fire department, who swiftly rescued the rest from a third-floor balcony.
“This proves that Halona was not just a service dog, she was a firefighter, too,” said Prin.
Since graduation and her arrival at the Prin home, Halona has been responsible for retrieving dropped items for Prin, tugging open bottom drawers, and picking up the kids’ toys. With reduced physical demands, Prin decreased his pain medication shortly after Halona’s arrival.
Prin realizes that calling Halona “life-changing” might seem dramatic to some, but to Prin, Halona brings the perfect mix of skills and support. Their immediate bond has touched the hearts of many, and the pair’s success was recently featured on the “TODAY” show.
At the CCI show, Prin said, “You can call it fate, kismet or just plain luck, but I feel that Halona and I have been on a path to each other since she was born.”
The next speaker was Retired Staff Sgt. John Barbare, who served in the United States Army for 16-and-a-half years. John served three tours overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan where he earned two Purple Hearts. During his service, Barbare suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries and other wounds leading to his medical discharge in 2014.
His recovery involved two years of treatment at Walter Reed Hospital & Medical Center. While working with multiple specialists and a team of doctors, he was able to make a full recovery.
Barbare now works in the IT field and volunteers with other disabled veterans, helping them gain employment. In 2014, he was matched with service dog Javier. Both Javier and Barbare’s family were by his side at the CCI show at the Englewood Field Club.
The final speaker was Jennifer Williams, a puppy raiser who has worked for the Fox Network for 20 years. For the past two years she has been the executive producer of “The Daily Briefing” with Dana Perino. In 2003, Williams raised a Canine Companion puppy, Ollie, who graduated as a Facility Dog.
“Facility dogs are expertly trained dogs who partner with a facilitator working in a health care, visitation or education setting,” according to CCI. “In an educational setting, a facility dog helps engage students in schools and special education classes. In a health care environment, activities such as grooming, feeding and playing fetch with a facility dog can aid patients in medical rehabilitation and psychiatric programs.”
Over the past year and a half, Jennifer raised her second puppy, Spike, in memory of her brother Kyle (whose childhood nickname was Spike). The pup is now in Advanced Training, waiting to be placed.
When Swain introduced Williams, she said with great pride and appreciation, “I met Jennifer 10 years ago through my son, Philip, and she became my inspiration to become a puppy raiser. I have raised 11 puppies, and for me Jennifer is still my inspiration.”
