By Starr Munro
Riverbend News
Some historians have put forth the idea that humans and dogs have a history as old as the invention of fire. They say when man invented the source of warmth and protection, bonds with predatory animals were forged in that creation of fire. A mutual respect and partnership was formed then, many people say. Both man and canine benefited from each other's presence; they shared food and offered each other extra protection. Since that time, dogs have used their extraordinary capabilities in senses such as hearing and smell to help in hunts, guarding homes, assisting in emergency situations such as floods, fires and earthquakes and have even been by people's sides in times of war. In more recent years, a long time since that first fire, canines have been utilized more and more not only for their physical capabilities but their mental capacity. Their capability of being trained into an animal that can sense seizures or upcoming diabetic attacks, remind people of their medication schedules and so much more is a gift many strive to accomplish. This is the story behind the Canine Services Training Center based out of O'Brian and how its CEO, Scott Jones, arrived at the idea of creating a center for training dogs. A place where people in need of a companion who can do more than roll over and play dead, can find one without emptying out their bank account for a service that changes the quality of life for people all over the world.
Born in Port Jervis, NY, Scott Jones has lived in the community of O'Brian in Suwannee County for over three years and attended basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., at the age of 24. After he completed his training there, he was stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga., for the first three years of his enlistment before spending a year in South Korea and then returning back to Fort Stewart. From there, he was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq during operation Desert Fox. During his service he attended a plethora of courses including but not limited to: Light Leaders at Fort Benning, Ga.; Sniper Sustainment at Camp Humphreys, South Korea; Anti Armour at Camp Casey, South Korea; Small Unit Armor at Fort Stewart, Ga. and Special Forces Assessment & Selection at Fort Bragg, N.C., before being medically discharged from the Army in April of 2002.
It was during this time in his life where he found himself on the road that would take him to where he is today. He attended Starmark, a school for canine training, before moving to the Savannah, Ga., area to assist the husbands and wives of those deployed in proper dog training skills. It was also during this time that he volunteered at a local fire department as a canine search and rescue handler and attended the Georgia Public Training Center in Forsythe, Ga., and became certified in: Fire Investigation; Level 1, Juvenile Firestarter Intervention; Level 1 & 2, Post Blast Crime Scene Evaluation; Emergency Medical First Responder; Fire Ground Hydraulics; National Pro Board Qualified Firefighter 1; National Pro Board Qualified Hazardous Material Operator 1 and Rescue Specialist.
In March of 2015, Jones finally accepted the impact Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) made in his life and sought help for the negative effects it can have on those who are diagnosed with it. However, while looking online for a trained service dog he found himself appalled at how remarkably unaccessible they are to the average citizen. He knew there were many people out there who had a genuine need for one but could never afford it because of how much the market charges for them. He also knew he had to change that. Even though service animals are well-known in their aide of veterans for PTSD induced anxiety attacks, he stated, “Many of our first responders suffer from some form of PTSD, as well as abused women and children. We have provided facility dogs for turbulent child custody cases. These dogs provide a very real and tangible aspect that can allow a child to relax even if just for a moment.” When asked about the type of work the dogs are trained for he replied that, “Canine Services Training Centers primarily mission is to provide service dog training to individuals with neurological, emotional, and physical conditions. We don't look at issues as disabilities. Some of the dogs we have assisted with are diabetic alert/response, seizure alert and response, PTSD, night terror alert, balance and mobile dogs.
This is a service for the community that Jones and members of his family are committed to providing for the public. His mother presented german shepherds professionally before joining the military and his biological father was a trainer who studied with renowned trainer Captain Arthur Haggerty before becoming a Kennel Master himself. Jones remembers first training dogs at six years old. This has only been on the professional level since 2003, but in reality Bass has been training dogs for 43 years. Canine Services Training Center has provided specifically trained dogs within the price range to people all over Florida and Georgia and even have some of their service animals in New York and Hawaii. The bond a canine can have with a person is something most people in recent history have experienced, and Jones is no exception. His own service dog, Moana, is there for him during severe night terrors and acts as a guard and protector, pushing his wife out of their bed and taking the grunt of his unconscious thrashing all the while not allowing his wife to return to bed until they've passed. “A natural unbreakable bond,” he says. “I absolutely love what I do. There is something magical about witnessing the natural connection between a dog and their human. Just like joining the military, becoming a firefighter, or police officer isn't for everyone. Not every dog is right, but when it is, it's amazing.”
If you're interested in assisting this great center, volunteers are needed when they have litters of puppies due to early socialization being critical to early development. And they are always looking for donations of fencing, dog food, dog supplies in general, as well as monetary donations to allow them to keep doing what they do, and what they do so well. You can call Canine Services Training Center at (912) 532-0140 or email them at caninestc@gmail.com They are located at 11076 219th Rd., in Live Oak.