Have a seat, pour yourself a glass and I’ll tell you…
Seven years ago, I began to raise service dogs for Canine Companions for Independence. I am currently raising my third dog. I have always been an individual that enjoys assisting people with certain needs. With all the worthy charities to support, I was drawn to one that emotionally moved me. I love dogs but this charity is so much more than “dogs”- it’s actually about providing service dogs to people with disabilities in order to change their lives for the better, and what could be better…AT NO COST to the recipient of the dog. I had observed close friends of ours raise dog after dog bringing them to work, social events and just about anywhere they went. Then after 1 ½ to 2 years launch them from their home nest to make the life of someone with a disability better.
Giving comes in many forms. We can donate money, services, time, attention and goods. But why would we take time out of our day to “give back”? Donating provides a feeling of satisfaction when you help someone else. It’s difficult to replicate the gratification you receive when you give to another. People who give feel happier, are less anxious and suffer less depression than those who don’t. Better health is enjoyed by those who donate their time, expertise or money to others who are in need. Charitable people tend to be able to cope with their own problems more easily than those who don’t donate. Giving to others improves your self-esteem, self-confidence and self-worth. This advantage flows into all areas of your life so you will find that you are more confident at work and in social situations.
And the term “give back”- what is that all about? Giving back implies that you are returning something that was taken or given to you. It implies that you “owe” it to someone to return the favor. When speaking of donating I prefer to think of it as sharing your talents or gifts to someone not as fortunate. Giving should be completely without burden to be successful. Supporting a cause you believe in and touches your heart is where you want to be. If you are passionate about something or believe that a certain area is important, you will be able to support that cause by donating to charity. You might be passionate about every child having access to a good education; that nobody should live in poverty in the 21st century; that everyone should be able to experience music or art. Whatever you believe in or are passionate about, you will be able to further the cause through donations to charity.
In my case, raising a service dog for someone in need is my heartfelt desire. The dogs that I raise can be used for multiple purposes. They assist individuals who are hearing impaired, require treatment at a medical facility providing oncology or other treatments, assist adults and children with medical conditions as well as people suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorders to name a few. The journey that people with disabilities are faced with is monumental and moves me emotionally as I present the aspiring service dog that I’ve raised for the past 2 years- the member of my family as these dogs become. I’m not going to lie. It’s incredibly difficult to return these dogs for further training even when we are aware from the very beginning that they are not ours to keep. Parting with the dogs at two years is fervently difficult. Waiting for performance updates to hear if they are succeeding in the training that I provided is torture. . And then- hopefully one day in the future- you get THEE call. The call that your sweet pup matched with someone in need. That “your” dog is going to go on to change a person’s life for the better. WOW!!! That’s the magic! Pre-COVID we were able to meet the recipients of the dogs. I am proud to say that the first two dogs I raised were successfully matched to individuals who are grateful for my gift of training, positive formative years and successful socialization. Things are not quite so easy in the time of COVID. Some puppy raisers don’t get to “say goodbye” to their pups but they raise them selflessly for the satisfaction of donating a skill set to change a life.
When we help others, we help ourselves. Donating to charity gives the opportunity to meet new people and expand our circle of acquaintances. This is especially true when donating time or expertise to a worthy cause. While most charitable organizations always need money, many could not operate without an army of volunteers. Whether giving time one day a week to serve meals, giving a few hours a day to sit with the elderly or travel overseas to help build houses, you will certainly meet many like-minded people along the way. As well as being potential friends, who knows where these new relationships will take you and how these new people might be able to help you in the future.
Our family winery, Spoto Family Wines has enjoyed holding fundraisers for the benefit of Canine Companions for Independence. Our first event was well-attended providing an opportunity to see how the training of the dogs occurs. Our trainer had dogs from every level of training including the adorable little fur-balls that will one day go on to be service dogs. The open-air winery setting was enjoyed by all that attended while tasting wonderful food and delicious wines. We proudly raised over $17,000. One perk of this event was that we were able to name a future puppy. We chose the name “Spoto” of course! Spoto is currently in Oregon assisting a young man and we couldn’t be prouder. This year in 2020 we had planned another event to support the cause. It was a multi-course dinner pairing a delicious culinary experience with our wines. We had also coordinated a Magnum Auction with wines generously donated by our colleagues from the Napa Valley. Two days before the event, due to COVID, we made the call to cancel the event. We were incredibly disappointed but did not want to put anyone in harm’s way. We did proceed with a Virtual Magnum Auction and were able to raise over $14,000 so we had a big smile for the generous donations from our wine club members and friends. Once again, we were able to name a future puppy and so named this pup ToKalon. A big name for a little puppy!!! To Kalon is a historic vineyard in Oakville (Napa Valley) that is known for its impeccable grapes producing highly sought-after Cabernets. To Kalon means “Highest Beauty” in Greek… a name well-suited for a precious bundle of fluff.
2020 has certainly dealt many challenges including the fires all over California. So many people have been impacted and lost homes, businesses and unfortunately lives. In an effort to assist our Napa colleagues who were affected by the devastating fires, we are donating a portion of the proceeds from the release of our 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon to the Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund.
As social beings, I urge you to find that activity or gift that allows you to helping those who are unable to help themselves. We have a responsibility to care for other people, to help those less fortunate than ourselves.
We are truly grateful to be able to help people with disabilities in some small way. It brings us joy and great pleasure to see the life of another individual bettered by well-meaning actions that I’m capable of accomplishing. No matter how you give simply do it from the heart. It’s the best feeling you can have.
If you would like more information on Canine Companions for Independence, please visit https://www.cci.org/
If you would like more information about Spoto Family Wines and our fundraisers, please send us a note on our contact us page at https://www.spotowines.com/mailing-list or simply visit our website https://www.spotowines.com
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The views expressed in these blogs are solely the opinion of the author and does not represent the views of others.