Canine Companions, a nationwide organization that provides service dogs at no charge to people with disabilities, hold its grand opening in Mathews on Saturday at its new field office—the historic 220-acre Eastbrooke Estate given to the group in 2022 by the Helen and Murray Main Foundation.
The event, attended by around 150 invited guests, was filled with inspiring stories, service dog demonstrations, and a bevy of people in wheelchairs accompanied by their devoted canines.
Paige Mazzoni, CEO of Canine Companions, traveled from California to participate in the event, which coincided with the organization’s 50th anniversary. She said the new facility is an important part of the group’s future because not only will it support puppy raisers, thus helping to “get more service dogs to more people more quickly,” but also its location is close to a significant population of veterans, and “they are always an important part of what we do.”
“In this little spot of heaven, we can do more outreach...