K9s for Warriors

K9s For Warriors
Formation 2010
Founder Shari Duval
Type 501(C)(3)
Focus Alternate therapy for helping veterans cope with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Animal welfare
Location
Executive Director
 Rory Diamond[1]
Budget
$2.9 million[2]
Staff
44[1]
Volunteers
500+[1]
Website www.k9sforwarriors.org

K9s For Warriors is an American charity and veterans service organization that provides service dogs to veterans.[3] The organization trains rescue dogs to help veterans coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, post-9/11 issues and other psychological challenges associated with military service.[2]

History

K9s For Warriors was founded in 2011 by Shari Duval who was inspired by her son, Brett Simon,[4] a contractor who returned from two tours in Iraq and was suffering from severe post-traumatic stress.[5]

Program

K9s For Warriors trains and evaluates rescued dogs before providing them to veterans as service dogs for no charge.[6] The organization accommodates veterans during a three-week live-in program to facilitate bonding with a trained dog, following which the veterans are sent home along with their service dog.[5] As of April, 2017, K9s For warriors has provided service dogs to over 300 combat veterans.[7] The organization claims that 95% of dogs used in the program are rescues, with the other 5% coming from breeders or being surrendered by owners .[8]

Media coverage

K9s For Warriors' alternate therapy using service dogs has been appreciated by several veterans[5][9][10] and has been covered extensively in mainstream media.[11][12][13]

K9s For Warriors has partnerships with Merrick Pet Care [14] and Bayer. [15] K9s for Warriors has also been the benefactor of many events and has the support of many organizations and individuals including Stryker Orthopaedics, Fine Earth, the Petco Foundation, PetSmart, Inc., and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.

In September 2015, a K9s for Warriors' service dog named Axel provided to Captain Jason Haag,[11] a Marine veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, was denied entry into an American Airlines flight.[16] Haag and Axel were on their return from an event conducted by the American Humane Association where Axel had won a Service Dog of the Year award.[17][18] The incident received considerable attention in the news and social media.

In November 2015, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton was nominated for NFL's Salute to Service award[19] for his work with K9s for Warriors.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "K9s for Warriors opens expansive new Nocatee home ready to help veterans for free". Jacksonville. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  2. 1 2 "K9s for Warriors visits students at FSDB". The St. Augustine Record. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "Rusty’s Legacy joins forces with K9s for Warriors". The McDowell News. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "Warrior with PTSD explains fear of St. Augustine". First Coast News. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "Spared from the kennel: These rescue dogs now help vets". Army Times. 9 May 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "Campaign aims to stop veteran suicide epidemic". News4Jax. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "Congrats to K9s for Warriors on 300- Plus Service Dog Teams!". LuckyPup. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  8. ↑ "Operation Orion is in full swing". First Coast News. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "Extraordinary Ordinaries: Veteran, dog paired through K9s for Warriors". Fox13. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  10. ↑ "Service dog turns life around for PTSD mom and autistic son". First Coast News. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  11. 1 2 "A soldier's battle at home". CNN. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  12. ↑ "K9s for Warriors uses dogs to reintroduce soldiers to society". Orlando Weekly. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  13. ↑ "K9s For Warriors Aims To Rescue 10 Dogs To Help Veterans With PTSD In Summer Fundraiser". Huffington Post. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  14. ↑ "K9s_for_Warriors&action=edit&section=3#itle=Merrick Pet Care Expands Partnership with K9s for Warriors with New Merrick Backcountry Hero’s Banquet Recipes". Merrick. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  15. ↑ Brenner, Carrie. "Bayer Expands Partnership With K9s For Warriors". Pet Product News. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  16. ↑ "Veteran, service dog have trouble boarding flight". USA Today. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  17. ↑ "Marine veteran, ‘Service Dog of the Year’ denied access to airline". KFOR. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  18. ↑ "Service Dog of the Year’ denied entry on American Airlines flight". Fox59. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  19. ↑ "Salute to Service month in NFL includes award". Associated Press. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  20. ↑ "New Orleans Saints nominate Sean Payton for 'Salute to Service' award". The Times-Picayune. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.