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Thursday, May 14, 2009
Local service dog center wins Helmsley grant

A local group that trains service dogs got a special gift thanks to the late hotel billionaire Leona Helmsley.

Canine Partners for Life, of Cochranville, Chester County, received a $100,000 grant from the trust created Helmsley - one of only 10 canine organizations in the country to get an award.

Founded in 1989, CPL trains and places service and companion dogs with people suffering from a range of physical disabilities including multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, Parkinson’s disease, spina bifida, arthritis, autism, Down syndrome and cardiac problems.

CPL estimates it costs $22,000 to train and give lifetime support for a service dog. The group has placed 400 dogs in 40 states.

Helmsley amended the terms of the $5 billion Helmsely Trust  in 2004 to have the trust’s money go to “purposes related to the provision of care for dogs.” But trustees last month determined $136 million would go to charities and only $1 million of it to those serving animals.

After her death in 2007, the world learned Helmsley had left $12 million to her Maltese dog named Trouble and nothing for her two grandchildren. A judge redistributed that bequest awarding $6 million to the grandchildren and $2 million to keep Trouble out of trouble.

Posted by Amy Worden @ 10:20 AM  Permalink | 3 comments
Comments   
Posted 10:21 AM, 05/13/2009
Macy
According to its website, Canine Partners for Life’s “breeding program consists of two female Labradors (Tara (black) and Marlee (black)). These two ladies provide CPL with approximately two litters of puppies per year.” Bred TWICE a year? That’s akin to unethical and backyard breeders and puppy mills! No dogs should be bred every heat cycle and Labradors tend to have huge litters so the mother dogs need at least a year in-between litters to recuperate and regain a healthy weight, etc. Pregnant and nursing dogs suffer physical stress and weight loss. The gestation period - about 65 days - coupled with 6-8 weeks of nursing unweaned puppies, leaves only about two months “rest” before the dog is bred again. CPL should be ashamed of taxing these poor dogs like this. Surely there are numerous Labrador and/or Golden Retriever RESCUE groups who’d be willing to network with CPL to provide unwanted (stray and owner-surrendered) dogs to them. These dogs make wonderful companion animals!
Posted 05:34 PM, 05/13/2009
David123
Macy, I appreciate your concern for the organization. I have adopted a dog from CPL and visited their entire facility. Your comments are a bit extreme and you are obviously not so familiar with the organization. Please take some time to explore a bit further before you publicly berade a fantatic well managed group.
Posted 10:53 PM, 05/13/2009
Macy
Extreme? In what way? My issue is with the group's own admission on its website that it breeds their Labradors TWICE a year. Maybe you need to do some research on responsible care and breeding of dogs. You will find respectable veterinarians and even responsible breeders who do NOT condone breeding a dog every heat cycle. In addition, there are scores of Labrador and Golden Retriever rescue groups that CPL could network with. Now that would be a win-win situation.
3 comments
About Amy Worden
Amy Worden is a politics and government reporter for the Inquirer. In that capacity she has explored a range of animal issues from dog kennel law improvements and horse slaughter to the comeback of peregrine falcons and pigeon hunts. From hamsters to horses, animals have always been part of her life. Today Amy lives on an apple orchard near Gettysburg with her husband and a feline menagerie. A search is underway for the right “dawg” and they hope the barnyard will soon house endangered geese and other animals.
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