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April 2026
A note from Canine Guardians
This month has started off quite well for us!
Gotelli Grant
We have received a check from the Napa Valley Community Foundation/The Gotelli Family Fund for $10,000 to help support us in our mission of raising and training service dogs for PTSD Veterans, 1st Responders, and disabled people. These recipients receive our dogs at NO COST which is why grants and donation are so important.
Canine Guardians Assistance Dogs Receives Grant from Community Fund to Support Canine Welfare Initiatives
Napa, CA – March 27th, 2026 – Canine Guardians Assistance Dogs, a nonprofit dedicated to raising, training, and placing service dogs with PTSD veterans and their families, is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded a generous grant of $10,000 from The David and Jane Gotelli Family Fund through the Napa Valley Community Foundation.
The grant, which was awarded in March to Canine Guardians Assistance Dogs, will provide crucial support to raising and caring for service-dogs-in-training. Our service dogs are the cornerstone of the program, and their well-being is central to our mission
"We are incredibly grateful to The David and Jane Gotelli Family Fund for a generous grant through the Napa Valley Community Foundation,” said Emily Abramson, Board Member for Canine Guardians Assistance Dogs. “These funds will directly support the well-being and welfare of our service-dogs-in-training as they gain skills that will change the lives of their human companions. This grant will make a significant impact on our ability to serve our community, and we are excited to put these funds to work in support of our programs and initiatives."
Merck Donation of Heartworm Prevention
We thank Merck and Silverado Veterinary Hospital for their excellent donation of 12 months of heartworm prevention meds. They are expensive and our vet, Mara Bleviss, was able to secure this donation for us .
Ribbon Cutting - Napa Chamber
In March we joined the Napa Chamber and had a festive and successful ribbon cutting with about 60 people in attendance. Two fire trucks and 7 firemen, 8 NPD, 7 chamber members, puppy parents and their service puppies-in-training, and board members all enjoyed the community spirit in helping us celebrate the event. Our service puppies performed a few of the 15 commands they have learned, thus far, in the 3 months they have been in training and they were AMAZING!
Wine Tasting FUNdraiser
Our annual Wine Tasting event is coming up May 7th at the Napa Valley Yacht Club and should be fabulous. Nine wineries will be pouring along with food and games and prizes. Link to buy tickets, click HERE.
Our Upcoming Events - Save the Dates
TBD -1st Open House at our new facility
May 7th - Wine tasting Fundraiser at the Napa Valley Yacht Club
June 23rd - Bingo at the FINK
September 30th - Golf & Gala at Kennedy Park
November 1st - NapaGiveGuide
Have a question or a suggestion? We're always here to help. Contact us today and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
A note from Canine Guardians-
We embrace 2026 with huge hopes and dreams. Our facility is allowing us to better train our service dogs while allowing us to have a space to me met for board meetings, fundraising meetings, extra one on one classes for the puppy parents and so much more.
Our 2026 Goals
Our goals for the current year are to:
· Successfully guide all six puppies through their first year of structured training;
· Ensure each dog meets or exceeds behavioral, health, and performance benchmarks;
· Prepare each dog to pass required evaluations and testing for advancement into the second and final year of training;
· Sustain program quality despite rising costs, without compromising canine welfare or training standards;
· Increase awareness and outreach of our program;
· Strategic fundraising to support these services, our community outreach, and our new training facility.
By meeting these goals, we will position each dog for a successful completion of advanced training and eventual placement with a veteran, individual with a disability, or first responder—continuing our mission to create life-changing partnerships while honoring our commitment to the well-being of every dog.
Our Upcoming Events - Save the Dates
TBD -1st Open House at our new facility
May 7th - Wine tasting Fundraiser at the Napa Valley Yacht Club
June 23rd - Bingo at the FINK
September 30th - Golf & Gala at Kennedy Park
November 1st - NapaGiveGuide

This year has been truly amazing. We have placed 5 of our 6 dogs with people in need-
* A woman with 3 children under the age of 7 who has been having seizures. Quincy, our CG dog, has been helping his puppy trainer identify oncoming migraine headaches SO his placement is crucial to help this woman potentially identify an oncoming seizure with enough time to ready herself and keep herself and her children safe.
* An amputee veteran, to help him get around safely, retrieve items for him, and keep his spirits up.
* A 13 year old boy who has MD and is mostly in a wheelchair. He attends school and now has the aid of Lily to help him make friends, retrieve dropped supplies, and keep him focused on learning.
* A retired AF combat vet and 30 year E Oakland Police Officer who has been harassed by nightmares for a very long time. Buck identifies when he is having these nightmares and licks his cheek then tightly snuggles him to let him know he is safe. Buck also keeps his spirits up!
*A DA who has had her life threatend by gangs, many gangs, and has been afraid to leave her house. Daisy provides security and calms her as the walk back into the real world.
We acquired our 1st facility at 1726 Jefferson St in Napa and are truly thrilled. A very generous donation came to us just as we had idenitied it. We were struggling to with the financial commitment and the next day a huge donation came in and answers our prayers! Thank you!
We start our next round of training this month with 6 amazing service puppies.
This season, you can make a powerful impact with just a few clicks by donating to Canine Guardians Assistance Dogs through the Napa Give Guide (https://www.candogiveguide.org/nonprofits/canine-guardians-assistance-dogs/).
Your tax-deductible gift helps us:
Give today and help us change lives, one service dog at a time.
https://www.candogiveguide.org/nonprofits/canine-guardians-assistance-dogs/
With gratitude,
Canine Guardians Assistance Dogs

As the year wraps up, our hearts are full of gratitude for friends like you who help us train and place life-changing service dogs with veterans, first responders, and individuals with disabilities. This month, we’ve got a fun night out, an easy way to give, and a few quick reads for dog lovers.
Join us for a tail-wagging good time at The Fink in downtown Napa for Bingo Night on Tuesday, December 2!
This season, you can make a powerful impact with just a few clicks by donating to Canine Guardians Assistance Dogs through the Napa Give Guide (https://www.candogiveguide.org/nonprofits/canine-guardians-assistance-dogs/).
Your tax-deductible gift helps us:
Give today and help us change lives, one service dog at a time.
https://www.candogiveguide.org/nonprofits/canine-guardians-assistance-dogs/
Crowded stores, noisy events, or even a simple trip to the grocery store can be overwhelming for someone living with PTSD or anxiety. A trained service dog can create space around their handler, provide grounding touch, and recognize early signs of distress—helping their person stay calm, confident, and safe.
The first months of a puppy’s life are critical. Exposure to different people, places, sounds, and surfaces helps build a confident, resilient dog. For future service dogs, this early socialization is what allows them to stay focused and steady in busy environments—from hospital hallways to airports and crowded events.
Not everyone can give financially, but everyone can help:
Small actions add up and help our teams succeed out in the world.
Thank you for being part of the Canine Guardians family.
Because of you, our dogs can do what they do best: bring hope, healing, and independence to those who need it most.
With gratitude,
Canine Guardians Assistance Dogs

We appreciate you subscribing to our newsletter and hope you have learned a little more about us. If you have any questions, visit our website at www.CanineGuardians.org or email CGAdogs@gmail.com
Canine Guardians Assistance Dogs
Canine Guardians Assistance Dogs 1726 JeffersonSt, Napa, CA 94559 US
TAX ID 38-3917740 EMAIL info@canineguardians.org