(upbeat music) (clapping)
You're gonna be my new best friend.
The bond that happens from that moment on
until the moment they actually go home is remarkable.
I'd like to invite Paul Monfre
up to the stage.
Paul is being matched with service dog Valor the Seventh,
and here to present Valor today are his puppy raisers,
Tom and Jennifer Newton.
(clapping)
Probably didn't get a lot of sleep last night,
but just remember, the dogs weren't up all night
wondering who they're gonna get, right?
(class laughs)
It's just another day of training for them.
Paul has been matched with Valor the Seventh.
(clapping)
Hey, buddy.
And just like that.
You're gonna be my new best friend.
These two become inseparable.
That's a good boy, yeah.
Meeting my dog, it's a really, really great feeling.
My name is Paul Monfre, I'm from Sayville, Long Island.
Paul is just one of many in this room
meeting their service dog for the first time.
(tags jingle)
The introduction happens here,
at Canine Companions for Independence in Medford, New York.
(uptempo music)
This is the time for bonding the dog with the recipient.
Good boy.
It's extremely emotional, because our goal here
is to make a match that's gonna last
10, 12, 13 years.
The two-year old Golden Lab mix
is named Valor.
I think it's so ironic that Valor's name is Valor, right?
Because here we are placing a dog
that was named for something prestigious
for somebody who's given their life for so many years.
Paul is definitely a unique individual.
As an organization we've been serving veterans
since the organization started in the '70s.
And then after 9/11, we've had more first responders apply.
And so Paul is unique, in the way
that not only is he a veteran and served in the military,
but he also was a firefighter during 9/11.
I was off that day, and we ended up all going in that day.
(fire engine siren)
We took buses into Ground Zero and we worked that day.
I was there for, by the time I got there,
the second building had already collapsed.
There was a lot of search and rescue involved.
And I re-injured my back, and quite a few other injuries.
So it was tough.
So after 12 years, they actually,
they put me out on disability.
It's been a little rough going since then.
Over the course of the last few years,
my back has been getting very stiff.
And if something falls, I have to pick it up,
it takes a good few minutes for me to actually get down
to that level and pick it up.
(upbeat music)
Valor will really make his life
a little bit easier on the days
that he has more pain than others.
I'm really looking forward to the benefits,
and just working with him.
Being able to give a command to get whatever fell
is gonna be extremely beneficial.
Let's go.
Training begins immediately after they meet.
Sit.
Good boy.
Now, let's go.
Service dogs are extremely helpful in many different ways.
Primarily our dogs are trained to do a variety of commands.
Up to about 40 different commands.
Nashville, let's go.
Good boy.
Yeah Lainey, yeah. Valor, let's go.
Valor looks a little far ahead, right?
Don't. Good.
Valor wait, wait. Good.
When he steps away. Good boy, good boy.
(clapping) Very nice.
Okay, David, you're gonna start us off.
Let's go.
People get dogs for the physical help.
Light.
Yes, good boy!
Zach, pick it up, yes.
Good boy, nice job.
But also for the emotional piece,
having companionship, having a social bridge,
connecting them more to their community
is a big part of it as well.
(chatter to dogs)
Day one and two here, people are super anxious,
they're unsure.
Nice, and you're gonna go around,
so he's gonna, you're gonna go towards me.
Coming and staying here,
and being out of their comfort zone,
putting their thinking caps on (laughs)
for two weeks is a lot of work
physically and mentally for them.
To practice what Paul's been learning,
the group goes on a field trip to nearby businesses,
like this pet store.
(toys squeak) So there's
this kind of squeaky ball...
Okay, oh that's a good one.
The more that you do with the dog,
the more the dog bonds with you,
and the more the dog will listen to you ultimately,
and it's a better relationship.
Up, hold, hold.
Okay, give. (employee laughs)
Thank you. Good boy.
(clapping) Good afternoon.
A very special welcome to all of you.
Thank you for all coming and joining us
at this great graduation.
(clapping)
When the two week training period is up,
a graduation celebration is held
for the dogs and their new handlers.
(clapping)
(squeaky toy)
We recognize and thank all of the veterans,
active military, and families
for their sacrifice and service.
I'd like to invite Paul Monfre
up to the stage.
Paul is being matched with service dog Valor the Seventh.
I learned so much about just being a good handler,
a good leader for Valor.
He's very responsive, his commands are right on,
and he's just been great.
(soft music) The puppy raiser comes up
with their dog that they've raised for 18 months,
and they're gonna be handing off their dog
to the recipient, which is ourselves.
They are volunteers.
They take these puppies into their home,
they train them for two years,
and then they return their dogs to us.
So we were assigned him when he was still
only a couple of weeks old.
Yeah we're a little bit sad,
but you would expect that.
But we're also very joyful about the whole process.
I think that between he and Paul,
they'll be bringing smiles all over the place.
Being in the Army and a fire fighter in New York City,
and serving at Ground Zero, and we wish you
many many happy, healthy, loving years together.
Thank you very much. (clapping)
I feel great.
I'm glad that the two weeks is up.
I learned a lot, but now I get to spend good quality time
with Valor at home.
We don't send them home and say good luck.
We continue a relationship with them
for the entirety of how long they have their dog.
But I have seen people leave here totally different people.
Extremely confident, knowing that they're gonna
go back and do wonderful things with their dog,
and that's probably my favorite part.
It's life-changing for me, because he's just,
he's amazing.
He's the best thing that ever happened.
(music swells to close)