WILLIAMSBURG — Kathleen Aiello and Leslie Neely are just two Williamsburg-based puppy raisers for Canine Companions, a national nonprofit that provides service dogs to the disabled, free of charge.

Canine Companions was started in 1975 in California by Bonnie Bergin, a special education teacher. On a trip to Asia, she observed people using donkeys to help individuals with disabilities navigate their environment. Leaving Asia inspired, Bergin created a similar system using Golden Retrievers and Labradors to assist people with mobility challenges.

All dogs are born in California at the organization’s breeding facility. At eight weeks, the puppies undergo their health checks before being sent across the country to six regions where they are placed with their puppy raiser. While with the pup

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