Canine Companions for Independence awarded CJC a new team member in 2010.

Tabitha II is a fully certified Service Facility Dog. She belongs to Canine Companions, but is at CJC to help comfort children under stress or who have been traumatized by abuse. First-time visitors have the option of an animal-assisted greeting.

Tabitha holds specialized calming and comforting skills that help bring down tensions and increase the child-friendly nature of the center. Also, children who must undergo a medical exam or appear in court have Tabitha to comfort them along the way.

When Canine Companions hands off the leash to a disabled person or facility, it has invested approximately $20,000 in a dog's breeding, care and training. We are honored to have Tabitha on our CJC team. She is a special addition to this community, which has welcomed her with open arms.

Tabitha has two certified dog handlers at the center who received training at Canine Companions. This training was funded through a donation from the iQ Credit Union Foundation.

In addition, Dr. Mark Burton of Evergreen Animal Hospital provides free veterinary care for Tabitha.

CJC is grateful to community partners who make the center a better place for children. Thank you!