Donation will support veterinary care for service dog puppies

A $150,000 donation on behalf of CareCredit to Canine Companions has been announced by the consumer financing company Synchrony on behalf of CareCredit. The donation includes funds earmarked to help cover veterinary care for college student puppy raisers training future service dogs, according to a news release.¹

Canine Companions, a national nonprofit service dog organization, provides trained service dogs at no cost to adults, children, and veterans with disabilities, as well as professionals working in health care, law enforcement, and educational settings. The funding targets a practical barrier familiar to veterinary teams: the cumulative and unpredictable cost of preventive, urgent, and illness-related care during a puppy’s early training period, and the donation coincides with the CareCredit’s 50th anniversary as well as its 10-year partnership with Canine Companions.¹

Of the total donation, $50,000 will support veterinary care, products, and services for collegiate puppy raisers at 30 colleges and universities in 23 states. The remaining $100,000 will support broader Canine Companions program operations.¹

College student volunteers raise Canine Companions puppies for their first 18 months, helping them learn 30 essential skills before they advance in the service dog training pipeline. According to Synchrony, collegiate puppy raisers have traditionally paid for food, toys, bedding, and veterinary care, with total expenses reaching $2500 to $3500 per puppy during the 18-month period.¹

Lucy, a Canine Companions volunteer puppy raiser at Colorado State University, said her first puppy, Franklin, initially required routine veterinary visits but later needed care for ear infections and emergency visits. “So, it’s definitely a lot and can be expensive pretty quick,” she said in the announcement.¹ “Having the support of CareCredit and Canine Companions is a huge lifesaver.”

For veterinary practices serving college communities, the funding may help keep these puppies on schedule for preventive care and timely treatment when medical issues arise. Participating institutions listed in the announcement include Colorado State University, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Connecticut, Longwood University, University of Pennsylvania, Texas Tech University, Clemson University, Louisiana State University, University of Arizona, Washington State University, and others.¹

Jonathan Wainberg, senior vice president and general manager, pet, Synchrony, said college students provide early training and socialization that help prepare future service dogs for placement. He noted that unexpected veterinary bills can be difficult for students to manage and said the donation allows puppy raisers to focus on developing “confident, capable dogs” for eventual service work.¹

Canine Companions has worked with collegiate puppy raisers for more than 25 years. The organization was founded in 1975 and reports that it has placed more than 8600 trained service dogs across the United States.¹

Jeanine Konopelski, chief marketing officer for Canine Companions, noted that partner support is important to the organization’s ability to expand access to service dogs. “This funding directly empowers more dedicated students to join our mission, enabling us to provide increased independence to those who need it most,” Konopelski said in the release.¹

For veterinary professionals, the announcement underscores the role general practices and emergency teams play in the service dog development pathway. Consistent access to veterinary care during the puppy-raising period helps protect canine health, supports volunteer retention, and helps service dog organizations keep candidates progressing toward advanced training and eventual placement.¹

Reference

1. Synchrony and CareCredit lend a helping paw to college puppy raisers training Canine Companions’ next generation of service dogs. PR Newswire. Published May 12, 2026. Accessed May 18, 2026. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/synchrony-and-carecredit-lend-a-helping-paw-to-college-puppy-raisers-training-canine-companions-next-generation-of-service-dogs-302768735.html