Community Corner | Canine Partners of the Rockies
Community Corner always feels special, but this one truly hit different. The studio was buzzing as we welcomed not two, not three, but four guests. Kyle and Bridget from Canine Partners of the Rockies joined us, along with two very good boys, Bodie and Rocky. Yes, service dogs in training. Instant joy.
Canine Partners of the Rockies, also known as CPOTR, has been serving Colorado since 2002. They raise, train, and place highly skilled service dogs with people living with physical disabilities, as well as facility dogs that support hospitals, schools, and veteran centers across the state. As Kyle explained, their mission is simple and powerful. “Our focus is really to create greater independence for folks in Colorado who have physical disabilities.”
Bridget introduced us to Bodie, a year-and-a-half-old service dog in training, while Kyle shared Rocky’s story. Rocky is almost two and already matched with his future partner. Watching them calmly hang out in the studio made it clear just how much work and love goes into the process.
When people think of service dogs, they often picture guide dogs for the visually impaired. CPOTR works in a different but equally critical space. Their mobility service dogs help with everyday tasks like opening doors, turning on lights, and picking up dropped items. Their facility dogs work with children in hospitals and veterans living with PTSD or traumatic brain injuries. “We’ve found a niche supporting people with physical disabilities,” Kyle said. “It allows us to really become experts at what we do.”
The training process is extensive and thoughtful. It begins when puppies are just eight to ten weeks old and placed with volunteer puppy raisers. These volunteers take the dogs everywhere so they grow comfortable in the real world. After about a year, the dogs move into advanced training, learning specialized tasks before being carefully matched with a person. “It’s not just the next dog with the next person,” Bridget explained. “We really focus on the best fit. The current waitlist for a service dog is about two and a half years. The biggest challenge is finding volunteer puppy raisers willing to open their homes and their hearts. “It’s a huge ask,” Kyle admitted. “But we can only help more people if more people step up.”
CPOTR makes accessibility a priority. There is only a $50 application fee for service dog recipients, even though each dog costs around $30,000 to train. “We believe there should not be a financial barrier to getting the help someone needs,” Kyle said. If you want to learn more, volunteer, apply, or just fall in love, visit CPOTR.org. Fair warning, their puppy cam is live daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. You might not get much done after that. Huge thanks to Kyle, Bridget, Bodie, and Rocky for stopping by and for the incredible work they do.
