Governor’s salary donations will help service dogs who help people

Virginia’s Gov. Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin Dec. 1 donated a portion of the Governor’s salary to Canine Companions, an organization that pairs service dogs with people and facilities to support independent and healthy living. 

The Governor donated $43,750 to Canine Companions, building on his commitment to donate his salary to organizations that strengthen Virginia communities. The Governor’s donation will underwrite the cost of two facility dogs through Canine Companions, with the first Canine Companions dog placement in Petersburg. This dog will be partnered with a Petersburg police officer, serving as a canine community bridge builder to support the health and wellbeing of those in and around the criminal justice system. 

“I am proud to support Canine Companions in their mission to uplift communities through the facilitation of service dogs,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “I thank Canine Companions for giving Virginians with disabilities and veterans the opportunity to live more independently. Through the placement of facility dogs, they have made a profound impact in healthcare, criminal justice, and educational settings across the Commonwealth as well.” 

“The benefits of the human/animal bond cannot be overstated,” said First Lady of Virginia Suzanne S. Youngkin. “We couldn’t be more grateful to Canine Companions for its work to help people with disabilities and communities in need, nor more excited about the blessings that these dogs will surely bestow on the Petersburg community.” 

“Canine Companions couldn’t be happier to be partnering with the Youngkin’s to support facility dogs in Petersburg,” said Debra Doughtery, Canine Companions Northeast Region Executive Director. “This announcement couldn’t come at a better time as Canine Companions recently announced a new service dog facility donated by the Helen and Murray Main Foundation in Mathews, Virginia, opening in mid-2024. Canine Companions facility dogs are expertly trained to perform service dog commands, and these skills are used to enhance therapies, promote participation and reduce anxiety for clients in professional environments. Our facility dogs are bred to be calm, reliable and affectionate to help develop independent living skills.”

The Governor and First Lady traveled to Petersburg to welcome service dogs and their handlers from the Virginia and Northeast Region. Since its founding in 1975, Canine Companions has provided over 7,700 service dogs to people with disabilities and has since expanded to six regional training centers throughout the U.S. 

This year, the three previous quarterly donations were given to Good News Jail & Prison Ministry, a nonprofit placing Christian chaplains in jails and prisons to minister to the spiritual needs of inmates and staff; Operation Light Shine, an integral partner helping to eradicate human trafficking in Virginia; and the Life Enrichment Center, a nonprofit helping young students learn to read and become adept in using technology. 

As devoted supporters of education, animal causes, support services for those with disabilities and law enforcement, the Youngkins applaud Canine Companions’ valuable impact on communities. 

The decision to donate the fourth-quarter gubernatorial salary to support a Canine Companions facility dog in Petersburg reinforces the Governor and First Lady’s commitment to strengthening the Petersburg community. In September, the Governor celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Partnership for Petersburg, a plan that encompasses six pillars, over 50 initiatives and coordinates with over 90 partners to transform the city and make a significant difference in the lives and livelihoods of Petersburg’s people.