We all know how valuable service dogs are to people with disabilities.  They provide constant companionship and assistance with everyday tasks such as retrieving dropped items, opening doors, and getting help.  Many organizations providing service dogs focus on adults.

Canine Angels Service Teams fills a unique niche in the service dog world by providing specially trained service dogs, at no cost, to children as young as 5.  In our program, older children that demonstrate they can control the dog may qualify for public access to enhance their life experiences and maximize the benefits of having a dedicated canine companion.  In addition to providing companionship and unconditional love, our carefully selected and professionally trained dogs make a positive lifetime impact on children in becoming more self-sufficient, productive members of society as they reach adulthood.  In helping these children, we don’t measure our success by counting how many receive our dogs.  We focus on short, intermediate, and long-term observable outcomes designed to have a positive, life-time impact on the children.

Based in Oregon with operations in northern and southern California, our goal is to serve the west coast and beyond.  Our organization is composed of highly trained and dedicated staff with a combined 88 years of experience in training dogs and helping children.  Collectively, we have raised and trained more than 120 dogs to serve people in need.  

Our Staff, Board of Directors, and Volunteers are powered by our passion and commitment to create a better world for children with special needs.  We cannot help these children without public participation in our fundraising activities, grants from foundations, and private donations. 

After over 25 years of local and statewide leadership in the tourism and hospitality business, Kerrie joined the Canine Angels team in the fall of 2017. She had served on the Board of Directors since 2013, having found the organization truly inspirational and life changing for the young people and families who receive these amazing partners. She brings experience in marketing and development, and a strong service-oriented, relational approach to her work.

Kerrie has lived experience with Canine Angels dogs.  Her first dog, Alfie, a Career Change angel, spent time (with approval) supporting her at work and was an amazing companion. Snoopy, the original Ambassador dog for Canine Angels, came into her family’s life in 2015.  He became a certified therapy dog and 7 years after his initial training passed the test to become her service dog.

Snoopy supported Kerrie in her efforts to navigate the travails of MS and also visited students and the elderly, helping young people learn to read and melting hearts wherever he went. Snoopy passed away in May, 2018 but will forever be remembered because of  an Evergreen Bank  “Bearfest” statue honoring his contributions to the community.  Kerrie’s next venture with service dogs will be to raise a puppy… a role that is critical to our organization and will test her in so many ways.

Kelly has a Bachelor's degree in sociology with additional studies in communicative disorders and four years of training in sign language and interpreting (ASL and SEE).  She has worked in special education at the elementary level.

She has been raising, socializing, and working with assistance dogs since 1998.  Kelly was a therapy dog team volunteer with Therapy Dogs International for five years.  She has served as Executive Director, Outreach Coordinator, grant writer, event planner, and fund raiser for several service dog organizations and therapy dog groups.  Kelly arranges and conducts educational programs on service dogs at local schools.

Sandy is a professional dog trainer and instructor, owning her own dog training business since 1998. Prior to her training career she was a certified Emergency Medical Technician and worked for a Veterinary Technician for 12 years. Sandy’s devotion to assistance dogs and children with disabilities began as a young person when volunteering for a horseback riding program for special needs children and raising guide puppies for the blind.

Since then she has held the following key positions in service dog organizations: Puppy Raiser Coordinator, Trainer, Training Manager, Instructor, Executive Director, and Head Trainer. She personally raised 15 puppies to be assistance dogs and trained over 100 dogs that graduated as assistance dogs. She has been certified as an Assistance Dog Instructor by Assistance Dog International.

Sandy and her husband Ryan own two social dog boarding and training facilities in Southern Oregon. Sandy has trained dogs for private pet owners, Search and Rescue and for movies and commercials. She also finds time for Therapy Dog visits to care facilities, Service Dog presentations, rehabilitating rescue dogs and homeschooling her two amazing children.

• Emmy winning television producer
• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Florida State University
• Sarah is also the proud mother of a two-time CAST graduate, and has attended two team training classes
• She along with her husband, David Cook, have raised three CAST dogs in training
• The Cook family currently lives in North Hills, CA

• Auditor for the State of Montana, Department of Labor and Industry
• Lifelong involvement with non-profits in Washington and Montana as a board member and volunteer
• Spends much of her spare time helping to put on local rodeos and cheering her daughter and husband on as they compete
• Currently raising her 10th puppy for CAST

• Masters Degree in Information and Communication Science from Ball State University
• 22 years at Intel Corporation's Information Technology department ranging from project management to managing global IT teams
• 20 years served as a leader in  Intel's internal Emergency and Medical Response team for 5,000 employees
• Involved with raising 6 puppies for CAST
• "I am a single parent of a 15 year old daughter challenged with severe non-verbal autism where I have learned a great deal of patience, empathy, and advocacy for her and all with special needs.  Our shared experience has contributed to a significant part of my growth as a parent. "

• Professional experience includes Elementary Teacher, Director of Child Development, School Psychologist, Guidance Advisor, and Administrative Vice Principal
• Bachelor of Science Degree - Psychology, San Francisco State University
• Master of Science Degree - Psychology, San Jose State University
• Partnered with Canine Angels Service Teams Facility Dog Taylor – 7 years

• Raised in Grants Pass, graduated from Grants Pass High School, and received a Bachelor’s degree in education from Oregon State University, GO BEAVERS!!!
• Was leader of a 4H horse club for 11 years and raised & showed Arabian Horses for many years
• English teacher, and many years working as a long-term substitute
• A lifetime love of dogs and years of work with children makes Canine Angels the perfect organization to be a part of

• Grew up in Bellevue, WA and now lives part time in Bellevue and part time in Port Townsend, WA.
• Bachelors degree in Advertising and Computer Design from University of Oregon
• Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University
• Career spanned advertising, design, nonprofit fundraising before becoming a Pediatric Trauma Therapist
• Proud mom of two young men (ages 22 and 25). Her 25 year old was partnered with amazing CAST service dog Vida for 7 years
• Depends on her service dog, Dodger, who helps her live her life to the fullest after sustaining a mild traumatic brain injury in 2013.

• Mom to CAST graduate
• Former CAST Board Member
•  3-time puppy raiser
• Volunteer CAST photographer for 9 years
• Loves volunteering, making, & wandering (Not all who wander are lost)
•  Lives in the foothills of Northern California

• Controller/Business Manager of an Equine Non-Profit
• Raised 8 puppies  for CAST
• Therapy dog work at Children's Hospital Los Angeles

• Founder and President of MB4 Productions
• Studied Marketing at Azusa Pacific University
• Supporter of Canine Angels since its founding
• Sponsor of Canine Angels' breeder dog Halo
• Has assisted Canine Angels with artwork design, website, and other media projects

• Active artist living in Grants Pass since 1995
• Served on the Grants Pass Museum of Art and the City’s Public art committee
• Works for Fire Mountain Gems on their leadership team, currently part time
• Currently serves on the Board for Barnstormers Theater, Women’s Crisis Support Team and the City’s Tourism Committee

•          Retired executive from Hughes/Raytheon
•          Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Cal Poly University
•          Founding board member of Canine Angels
•          Former grant writer for Canine Angels
•          Volunteer for Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

•           Volunteer with Canine Angels Service Teams for the last 8 years
• Active in the dog rescue community
• Volunteer for many years in multiple shelters and dog rescue organizations
• Licensed Realtor in Oregon and California
• Retired from a successful 25-year career as a sales executive in the software industry