Veterans Day Tribute: How Veterans & Rescue Dogs Are Helping Each Other
Approximately 20 Veterans die by suicide every day, reports K9s for Veterans.
Let that really sink in.
Twenty.
20.
That is about 7,300 of our veterans we lose every year to suicide.
This is our video from then:
In that short period of time you watched the video and heard my FiveSibes howl...just 22 seconds...isn't it heartbreakingly sad to think our country has lost a warrior in that short period of time, multiplied out through a 24-hour period?
Today, thankfully, there is a light being shone brightly on the importance of mental health, especially meeting the mental health needs of our military memebers. Much has been explored in the 9 years since the #K9sStop22 initiative, and it was important to me then, and it is today almost a decade later.
After all, if we train our people for their military service, we need to also help them readjust back to civilian life. Seems like a given to me.
The article continues with Dr. Bruce Capehart, who heads the mental health program for Afghanistan and Iraq veterans at the VA Medical Center in Durham, N.C. "That helps us focus what should our efforts be as far as outreach, education, prevention and treatment." He adds, "But we have to know who the people are that need those treatments before we can offer it to them and help them become engaged in care."
So no matter what the number is, or the numbers of seconds, "Helping vets: that's what the number 22 motivated a lot of people to try to do."
Motivation to help is key. And so are dogs.
Enter K9s for Warriors. "Determined to end Veteran suicide, K9s For Warriors provides highly-trained Service Dogs to military Veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma. With the majority of dogs being rescues, this innovative program allows the K9/Warrior team to build an unwavering bond that facilitates their collective healing and recovery."
K9s For Warriors exists, "Because of a fierce dedication to saving the lives of both Veterans and rescue dogs. This program is backed by scientific research and empowers Veterans who fought for our freedom to live a life of dignity and independence. Graduates of the program are able to live a life that they previously did not think was possible. Many have reunited with their families, gone back to school, found renewed enjoyment in life, and significantly reduced their medications."
According to Kevin R. Steele, the Chief Program Officer for K9s For Warriors, Inc., "As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and with our generous community of supporters, K9s For Warriors matches our Warriors with a Service Dog and hosts the pair at one of our campuses for a 21-day program at no cost to the Warrior. This program includes on campus and off-site training, bonding time in our welcoming housing, and useful classes, and it prepares the pair to pass a public access test, earning ADI certification that the dog is the handler’s Service Dog. We take great pride in providing our Warriors the best possible service, and your honesty and accuracy in this application is the first step in getting a 'new leash on life!'”
To review the rest of the criteria for the program, and to fill out an application, please visit HERE.
✔︎K9s For Warriors is the nation’s largest Veteran service organization focused on providing highly trained Service Dogs to Warriors.
✔︎More than 2,000 rescue dogs have been saved from shelters.
✔︎82% of Veterans with Service Dogs report a decrease in suicidal thoughts.
✔︎You can donate your time to help in a variety of ways, including cooking for warriors to helping inform others of the K9 Service Dogs.
✔︎Donations, private and corporate, are accepted to help this non-profit
✔︎You can Foster a future Service Dog.
✔︎You can Raise a future Service Dog.
"Successfully
guiding a Veteran through the K9s For Warriors program and providing
them with a Service Dog doesn’t just change the Warrior’s life. It saves
it," states K9s for Warriors.
With K9s for Warriors, the dogs are saved from either "abandonment or euthanasia."
With a Veteran being paired up with a rescue dog who becomes a Service Dog, it has a double bonus: for each duo that graduates from the K9s for Warriors program, "Two lives (are) saved – the Service Dog
and the Warrior."
While many of the dogs rescued from shelters or raised and fostered by folks do go on to become Service Dogs that are matched with a Veteran, there are some dogs who "do not qualify to live the Service Dog life and are career-changed." What does that mean? That means that civilians can adopt them! To meet some of these adoptable dogs, visit HERE.
For more information on K9s for Warriors, please visit their website by clicking on the graphic above.
So, on this Veteran's Day, be sure to thank someone you know who has served our country. And, if they have a retired military working dog, or have been partnered with a Service Dog, give that wonderful canine a treat (with their handler's permission, of course).
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A most beautiful post honoring those who served and their canine heroes too. Your father was most handsome.
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week. Scritches to the pups. ♥
A wonderful post honoring those that served, both human and animals. My father was in the British Airforce serving in Italy and Egypt during the war R.I.P. I think we all hold memories of stories our fathers told and are blessed to have been brought up listening to them. Big hugs
ReplyDeleteGreat post on this important day! Thanks so much for sharing information and your dad's pic. Hugs... Juno and mom. ps. Thanks so much for coming by our bloggy! :)
ReplyDeleteRescue dogs are doing amazing things! We will always honor, respect and remember all our Veterans.
ReplyDeleteThat statistic is absolutely horrifying. I'm so glad an organisation like this one exists to help both human and animal. I've never heard of this organisation before, so thanks for sharing their important mission.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post, Dorothy! Truly heartbreaking that so many veterans succumb to suicide. I've always thought that we ask so much of our military yet our country lets them down when they come home to us. I love K9s For Warriors and how they are saving two lives with one match. A lovely organization and one that many can learn from. Great photos of your dad and the video of your FiveSibes illustrating 22 seconds is amazing. WOW...every 22 seconds! That gives pause. This is really an invaluable post! Folks need to realize the need of our veterans and how much K9s For Warriors is helping. Love this post and of course I'm sharing with all my dog parents.
ReplyDeleteA truly inspiring post Dorothy and I had no idea mental health was such a huge and massive issue for service people. We rely on them so much and, maybe, we take their service for granted a little too much. The K9 organisation must have saved thousands of lives with their work.
ReplyDeleteThis post is relevant every single day of the year. Every. Single. Day.
Marjorie and Toulouse
DashKitten
Terrific post, Dorothy! I love K9s for Warriors, they're a great organization. You did a great job explaining the critical service they provide to our Veterans. I had the pleasure of visiting their facility up near Jacksonville a few years back and I was super impressed with their program. I didn't realize you can foster a future service dog! I'd love to do that one day, for sure.
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