Rick Hairston co-founded Carolina Canines in December of 1996 after having volunteered for an internationally recognized service dog organization in St. Louis, Missouri for several years. He has supervised and/or trained 100 service dogs, has numerous service dogs in training, and has registered 400 Animal Assisted Therapy Teams. He has provided training to over 500 individuals and their pets in basic and intermediate obedience and has facilitated several local High School programs for teens at risk since 2001. Rick has received the Duke University Continuing Studies Non-Profit Management Certificate. Rick is involved in many aspects of dog training. He holds certification and memberships in the following: Certified dog obedience instructor, a American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Certified R.E.A.D.® instructor (Reading Education Assistance Dogs a program of Intermountain Therapy Animals), member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers Member of International Association of Canine Professionals.
Recently acknowledged by Everyday Hereos, The Positive World for his work in the community, click here.
Pat Nowak-Hairston is the Office Manager for Carolina Canines. Before joining CCFS as a staff member in 2004, she was a key volunteer with the organization for two and a half years, assisting in the office, at events and coordinating volunteers. Her career started in the pharmaceutical industry with over 20 years experience in corporate America. She pulls from her expertise in project planning, management and operations to carry out the daily functions of CCFS.
Pat is very involved in the Therapy program as a registered Carolina Canines for Therapy team with her Airedale Terrier, Delta Mae and a Carolina Canines for Therapy Team Assessor, Certified R.E.A.D.® instructor (Reading Education Assistance Dogs a program of Intermountain Therapy Animals). In 2007, she authored A Job for Arabella, the story of Arabella, a rescued pound puppy, who realizes her dream of becoming a service dog.
Jenny Edwards joins will
be working with fellow staff, board members, and volunteers to increase
financial support, public outreach and help ensure Carolina Canines’ long term
sustainability. “I hope to hit the ground running,” Jenny says, “I’m looking
forward to meeting everyone involved with this impressive organization. Already
[service dogs] Titus and Angel have stolen my heart. Once you see them in
action, you know you have to support this work.”
With nearly ten years experience in non-profit leadership, Jenny has a passion for building capacity with small non-profit organizations by increasing membership, connecting new donors with “a passion for the mission”, grant writing, and more. For the past three years, she has worked with the river protection organization, Dan River Basin Association, to help meet their $200,000 - $400,000 a year budget and support four offices across their service region. She also has served as Program Officer with the North Carolina Humanities Council and Executive Director of the SPCA of the Triad. She will relocate to Wilmington from Greensboro in June and settle in with her rescued pack of herding dogs—including a blind and deaf Aussie named Rudy.
Laura Kranchalk has been a volunteer with our organization as a Carolina Canines for Therapy (CCT) team since March of 2004 with her dog Lambert. When Lambert retired, she then completed her CCT training with Blazer. Laura has been an advocate and dedicated team for our Paws for Reading program in the elementary schools and is a Certified R.E.A.D.® instructor (Reading Education Assistance Dogs a program of Intermountain Therapy Animals). Laura joined our staff in April 2009 and utilizes her corporate and retail experience as our Administrative Assistant helping with management of the office and working with our all important volunteers.Stephen LeQuire started volunteering as a foster puppy parent in the service dog training program. He raised one service dog that was partnered in 2009 and completed the advanced training of two other dogs that partnered. In 2008, Stephen began volunteering with the Carolina Canines for Veterans program before being hired in a part-time and then full time capacity. Stephen works with the prisoners in the Carolina Canines for Veterans program teaching them how to train service dogs for Veterans.
Carolina O'Brien started volunteering as a foster puppy parent in the service dog training program in 2007. She raised one service dog from puppy to adult that is partnered with their person. Her interests and skills lead her to trained the advanced service dog skills. In 2011, Caroline joined our staff in a part-time capacity to assist with the service dog training classes, working with foster families and team training with our civilian clients. Caroline also volunteers in our Paws for READing program using her background working with children to help children in our community.