A family-owned business in Concordia, KS is making a lasting impact on rural communities, training service dogs for people with disabilities. At CARES (Canine Assistance Rehabilitation Education Services) the legacy of Isabelle Blackwood, Director of Canine Assistance, and her grandmother, founder of the organization, is growing every year. CARES, established by Blackwood’s grandmother in 1999, began as a passion for service animals and has since developed into a critical resource for local communities.
Dedicated to Service
CARES was officially formed as an LLC in 1999, but its origins go back further, when Blackwood’s grandmother, a lifelong dog enthusiast, became involved in fostering seeing-eye dog puppies through her 4-H program. This experience sparked her passion for providing service dogs for people in need, which led to the founding of CARES.
Blackwood, a current high school senior, said she has spent her whole life helping her grandmother at CARES and she has big ambitions for taking over the business when she returns from college.
“My hope is that with the knowledge I gain in college, I will be able to grow the business. I want to place over 100 dogs a year and add a class to the year so that we will place 5 classes of dogs a year,” Blackwood said.
Blackwood’s business plan also includes marketing for CARES by growing a social media platform and adding more correctional facilities to the six organizations CARES currently works with, including locations in Colorado, Missouri, and Indiana. More facilities mean more dogs complete training each year and help more people in a larger area.
The training process for these service dogs is intensive to prepare them to serve their future owners. CARES breeds its own Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers and accepts donated puppies, including from reputable breeders like Lindsay Clark of Green, KS. After the dogs are born, they are raised at CARES until eight weeks old, before being transported to correctional facilities where inmates teach them basic commands and social skills.
The dogs remain in these facilities until they are 6-10 months old, before returning to CARES for advanced training. They may also stay with volunteer families, called “social homes,” to become accustomed to everyday environments with children, loud noises, and public spaces.
The goal is for these dogs to be placed with individuals in need when the pups are between the ages of 18-24 months, after their training. CARES focuses on placing dogs with applicants who require assistance for a variety of needs, from wheelchair support to PTSD and diabetic alert services.
Life-Changing Results
Applicants meet their dogs for the first time on Mondays in Concordia, KS, where they spend the week bonding with their animal and learn how to properly handle and care for their companions. Candidates do not know anything about the dog before the first greeting– gender, breed, name, or personality. Blackwood says her favorite part of the program is seeing applicants meet their new service dogs for the first time.
“I have seen every reaction you can imagine from jumping and screaming to tears of joy. The change throughout those five days is something truly beautiful to witness. We have had children with autism who are non-verbal say their dog’s name in that week with us. We have had veterans with PTSD be able to go into public for the first time in years because of their service dog. It is just absolutely amazing to witness what these dogs can do and how grateful our applicants are for them,” Blackwood said.
A Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Blackwood is determined to expand the services CARES offers. As a senior at Clay County Community High School, she plans to attend the University of Kansas to study Behavioral Science and Business. After completing her degree, she hopes to return home and take charge of CARES with new ideas for growing her family’s business.
Keeping it Local
Two service dogs currently work at Clay Center Community High School, alongside a therapy dog. Blackwood has hosted two service dogs in training herself, taking them with her to classes and school events.
“I have been a “social home” for two different service dogs in training- A German Shepard and a Goldendoodle, both of which attended school and various school activities with me. The high school has been great to work with and the lives changed by these two dogs owe a great credit to the cooperation of the high school.”
With a deep commitment to enhancing lives, CARES continues to make a difference in the community by matching people in need with life-changing service dogs. The organization remains rooted in the family and community, with Blackwood carrying the torch for future generations.
