Canine Companions to gain a new wing and help more people

Bay Shore construction company owner Jim Nazzaro is building and donating a new dorm wing at the Canine Companions headquarters in Medford. Construction on the $3.5 million project has already begun.

Canine Companions is a national organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained service dogs at no charge to the recipient. The dogs are either golden retrievers or Labrador retrievers, or a mix of both. Volunteers raise the dogs in their homes for a year and a half, and then they come to the training center for six to nine months of training with a professional trainer.

The project, according to Canine Companions Northeast Region executive director Debra Dougherty, will double the number of service dogs they are able to match with clients by providing additional dorm rooms for their stay during trainings.

The donor, Nazzaro, is the owner of the Construction and Real Estate Development company, J. Nazzaro Partnership LP. He and his wife were also a Canine Companions volunteer puppy raiser.

According to Nazzaro, his passion for the organization came from being a puppy raiser.

“It’s the best thing that ever happened to us,” he said of raising a Labrador retriever named Zach, who was later matched with a young man with disabilities in Maryland, of which he remains in contact with today. “Zach was amazing, and from the very beginning we understood the concept that you’re saying goodbye to him someday. But we also knew he was going for a greater good.”

However, the only reason he said he hasn’t raised another dog is because of his travel.

“We didn’t think we could properly do the job of raising a future service dog. I said to myself, ‘You know what? I could actually make a larger impact doing what I know best, and that being construction,’” he added.

Then, when he learned the organization’s need for additional dorm rooms for clients at the Northeast Region Training Center in Medford, he immediately wanted to provide.

“I hesitated for maybe 30 seconds,” he said. “We’ll just build them! This is something I can do to make this dream come true and double the number of service dogs that can go to clients.”

According to Nazzaro, who is on site nearly every day overseeing the project, he anticipates a grand opening by the holidays (November/December).

“This is probably the last construction project I’m going to do in my career,” he added, proud to end with something so special. “I’ve been building for 42 years and now I’m ready to slow down a bit. I couldn’t leave on a better note.”

The project, which will double the dorms from 11 to 22, essentially and eventually allowing the organization to double their output of helping people and bringing down their waitlist, broke ground in March. The location has about 80 to 100 people waiting for a service dog at any time.

Canine Companions currently accommodates about four classes per year, with some side placements, totaling about 60 graduates per year (about 70 pre-COVID). They estimate being able to place over 100 dogs with the additional dorm space.

Thanks to the project, Dougherty said they have also started increasing the breeding program out in California with plans to get more puppies in the next few years.

“And it’s all because of Jim,” she said. “There was a lot of shock and then gratitude that he made such a generous opportunity for us to be able to serve more people.”

Nazzaro will also be honored during the Canine Companions 50th anniversary gala on May 10. The gala will be held at noon at the Medford location. For tickets, visit canine.org/goldennortheast or call 631-561-0201.

Bay Shore construction company owner Jim Nazzaro, who is building and donating a new dorm wing at the Canine Companions headquarters in Medford, with the organization’s Northeast Region executive director Debra Dougherty.

The project, which will double the dorm space, broke ground in March with an anticipated completion date for some time over the winter.