Nancy Lagasse and Writer

Leonardtown, MD –  Canine Companions for Independence – a national non-profit organization that provides assistance dogs for children and adults with disabilities – is proud to announce that Virginia resident Nancy Lagasse has recently received an assistance dog from Canine Companions for Independence.

     Nancy was matched with Writer, a two-year-old Labrador/golden retriever cross who has been trained to respond to over 50 commands.  Writer can turn light switches on and off, open and close doors and retrieve dropped objects.  However, one of his most important jobs will be to provide constant companionship for Nancy.

           Much of the thanks for this successful match goes to Canine Companions for Independence volunteer puppy raisers Julia Goyco and her mother Joan Marano-Goyco of Leonardtown, Maryland (the Goyco family are 2 time Canine Companions for Independence puppy raisers, currently raising puppy Keeper).  The Goyco family raised Writer from an 8 week old puppy, and said goodbye to him after a year and a half.  Julia and Joan worked tirelessly with Writer, teaching him basic commands, and the all-important socialization skills.  When he was old enough to begin advanced training, Writer was returned to the Canine Companions Northeast Regional Headquarters in Medford, New York where he worked for 6 months with the organizations nationally renowned instructors, learning over 50 commands.

Nancy and Writer were matched after completing Canine Companion’s recent Team Training Class, an intense, two-week course held at the organization’s Northeast Regional Center– one of six such centers nationwide. The Northeast Regional Center serves a 13-state area from Maine to Virginia.

Each student who attends Team Training – held at each center four times a year – is paired with a fully trained, working assistance dog, like Writer, and is taught to work with his/her canine companion. The training course consists of daily lectures, exams, practice and public outings.

         Nancy and Writer are settling into a routine back home in Virginia.  Nancy says, “Writer is a very special dog and I hope to have many wonderful years with him.  I can’t thank the Goyco family enough”.