Bonita M. Bergin, Ed. D.

Dr. Bonita Bergin invented the concept of the Service Dog to assist people with mobility limitations in 1975. At that time she founded Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), the first nonprofit to train and place Service Dogs.

After leaving CCI In 1991, Dr. Bergin founded the Assistance Dog Institute, which was formally designated a university in early 2004. Today, Bergin University of Canine Studies is young and growing.

Dr. Bergin has been honored with numerous awards including Oprah Winfrey’s “Use Your Life Award”; Presidential Points of Light Award; “What Matters” HBO TV; Council on Disability Rights Individual Achievement Award; and Alumni of the Year Sonoma State University.