Partners and Paws Summer 2021

trainer spotlight Nancy Cunningham

Do you want to help give the gift of independence?

We have been privileged to know Nancy Cunningham for a long time. For 20 years, she moved around the country with her family, as her husband was in the Air Force. In each place she went,

“Each dog teaches me

something new and wonderful.”

she loved to get involved in a deep and meaningful way in her new community. When her husband retired, they moved to Boones Mill and fulfilled their dream of owning a farm. Nancy, in looking to make connections here in Southwest Virginia, found Saint Francis, and boy, are we lucky she did. Nancy has since been a part of the Saint Francis Family for over 12 years as a trainer. Working with our dogs in their second year of training, she helps them learn the advanced skills they need to bring independence and freedom to the deserving people we serve. She says, “I have trained 16 Advanced Training Service Dogs for Saint Francis and loved every one of them. Each dog teaches me something new and wonderful.” Being a Saint Francis trainer is not an easy job. You spend countless hours teaching and loving a dog that you know you will give away. It takes a special kind of person, and Nancy

There are Two Types of Puppy Volunteers

As a PUPPY RAISER , you help Saint Francis by taking a puppy into your home. You introduce the puppy to the big world and teach the puppy basic manners and commands. As a PUPPY SITTER, you offer your home to puppies that need a weekend getaway or a vacation for a week or two. We support our Puppy Volunteers at every step of the way! If you can provide a safe, comfortable, loving home for our puppies to learn and grow in, please consider becoming a Puppy Volunteer today! For more information: visit saintfrancisdogs.org/volunteer email volunteer@saintfrancisdogs.org or call 540-342-3647

is a special kind of person. Many of the dogs she has trained are actively serving their partners today (including Eclipse).

Nancy will be moving again soon, and it will surely be a hard goodbye

for all of us! She says of her time at Saint Francis, “The

experience has far exceeded my expectations. The ‘village’ I have met along the way has truly blessed my life.”

Thank you, Nancy, for being a part of our village. You always will be!

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