Chrysler has a big case of “puppy love,” and the object of its affection goes by Foley.
Foley, a Golden/Labrador Retriever cross, is the newest member of the Chrysler family. Foley is embarking on a 2-year -long program that will take him from puppy to highly trained assistance dog for Canine Companions for Independence.
PacifiPuppy Foley
Chrysler and Canine Companions, which is the largest non-profit organization for assistance dogs in the U.S., will chronicle Foley’s growth and raise awareness for the organization’s “Give a Dog a Job” campaign.
“As we follow Foley through his journey, fans will get a first-hand look at watching him grow and learn, from puppy training to becoming a fully trained assistance dog, and also gain an understanding of the huge amount of time and resources it takes to train these amazing dogs,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Cars, Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA North America.
Foley’s preparation to be matched with a person with a disability will be chronicled on Chrysler’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter feeds and with the #RaisingFoley and #FoleyFriday hashtags.
The puppy – who is named in honor of actor and Canine Companions for Independence supporter Scott Foley – will take part in some serious training that will be chronicled on the brand’s social media channels. His acclimation to his puppy raiser’s home, visits to the vets, ignoring food on the ground and learning commands will be shared for the world to see.
Foley will also have some fun along the way, celebrating National Puppy Day and Canine Companions’ National Graduation Days, venturing to the park and tracking his growth in the all-new Chrysler Pacifica.
Wallis Brozman with her canine companion Mork.
“This campaign is educating the public on the unique contributions our service dogs make in the lives of adults, children and veterans with disabilities,” said Wallis Brozman, Corporate Marketing Assistant, Canine Companions, who herself has an assistance dog named Mork. “The program will also raise funds to allow us to place more exceptional dogs like Mork with people like myself.”
The cost to raise, train, place and support a certified Canine Companion assistance dog is a $50,000 investment. There are currently hundreds of children, veterans and adults with physical disabilities who are on the waitlist to receive a trained assistance dog from Canine Companions. These dogs, which are provided to qualified people free of charge, undergo two years of training to be fully trained. This includes six to nine months of professional training.
Canine Companions puppies
To learn more about the partnership between Chrysler and Canine Companions for Independence, and to donate, visit www.driveindependence.org.
