SANDPOINT — From the time they are bred until they find the perfect family, each step of the journey for a Canine Companion for Independence pup is important.

It is important because the pups are not just matched with anyone, they are highly-trained dogs placed with men, women and kids with all types of disabilities except blindness — Guide Dogs for the Blind has provided that service since 1942. Canine Companions for Independence is a nationwide, nonprofit organization founded in 1975 in Santa Rosa, Calif. The organization breeds, raises and trains golden retrievers, labrador retrievers or a cross of the two to perform all sorts of tasks for their handlers.

Lilly Mitsui of Sagle is a volunteer puppy raiser for the organization and received her newest charge, Evie, a few weeks ago. With a passion for puppy raising, Mitsui started a "Lake Pend Oreille Volunteer Group" shortly before Evie got to town. The group gets together once a week with a local trainer, Lindsay Feist, to teach the pups some of the more basic skills.

"Like any puppy, it's a lot of work at the beginning," Mitsui said.

Puppy raisers get the pups at 8 weeks old and raise them until they are at least 16 months. During that time, they learn basic obedience, good behavior, and socializing in public places. Afterward, they go into the care of an advanced trainer for six to nine months.

Mitsui was traveling to Seattle once a month to take her former puppy to training classes. Feist went to Seattle as well and spent three days with a trainer who has been working with Canine Companion for Independence pups for more than 20 years to get some tips and techniques.

"So she kind of learned the ropes, which is what we needed," Mitsui said. "We needed to have someone to understand how to train these dogs for the disabled; it's a little different than basic obedience training."

While the puppies are learning all of the basic skills, such as sit, lay down and stay, Feist also incorporates distractions — a feat in which her children make the perfect additions to the class.

"I try to incorporate them into the class at some level, because most of these puppy raisers don't have children at home," Feist said.

The dogs will be exposed to such distractions when placed with a family, so it is important that they get the exposure regularly during training.

Mimosa, an 18-month-old labrador retriever, was the oldest in the class, going through each motion with perfect demeanor. She attended the Lake Pend Oreille class since it began nearly five weeks ago, and is now preparing for the next leg of her journey to become a trained companion for someone with disabilities. After spending the past several months with volunteer puppy raisers Jim and Bonnie Wakefield of Spokane, Mimosa's next stop is advanced training in Santa Rosa.

"If all goes well, she is going to change someone's life," Mitsui said during the Oct. 10 class as a "bone voyage" party was held for the pup.

Mimosa will be "turning in" for advanced training on Nov. 3. The Wakefields travel from Spokane to Sandpoint each week for the class, and with Mimosa leaving, the couple received their new charge, Gratzi. Also attending the class is 7-month-old Brulee. Her volunteers are Jim and Molly Robbins, who travel from Post Falls for the class.

Dottie Johnson of Sandpoint became interested in puppy raising after talking with Mitsui during a Community Assistance League meeting. After attending a few of the classes as an observer, Johnson's new pup, Lovely, arrived on Wednesday.

Mitsui also learned this week that her former charge, Falcon, was invited to attend "team training." Canine Companions For Independence in Santa Rosa invites a group of individuals who have been on a "waiting list" to receive a dog to their campus for a possible "match" with one of the trained dogs, Mitsui said. If all goes well, Mitsui plans to fly to California for Falcon's graduation, where he will be presented to his new family.

Volunteer puppy raising opportunities are available, but Mitsui said not everyone is a good candidate for the task.

"We can still use volunteers help plan events and spread the word that our dogs are given at no cost to those that need them," Mitsui said.

The dogs are valued at $50,000 when they complete their training, she said, and are provided to those with disabilities at no charge.

Anyone is welcome to visit the classes at 3:30 p.m. each Tuesday at Forrest Bird Charter School or volunteer in another way. For information, contact Mitsui at lilly3wells@aol.com.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.