HELP An Atlanta Veteran With PTSD A New Leash On Life! Support @K9sforwarriors ! Jul 20th 2013, 13:30
K9s for Warriors rescues dogs from shelters prior to being euthanized and trains them to be service dogs for veterans with PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury. We hope you can donate $10.00, $100.00 or what ever amount you can afford – 96% of every dollar will help a Veteran with PTSD in Washington DC receive a service dog from K9s For Warriors.
Every hour, a veteran commits suicide! Service dogs are a natural cure for PTSD! Animal Fair and Wendy Diamond have partnered with K9s for Warriors and dedicated her book tour to raising enough money for a dog to be rescued from a shelter and trained as CGC-certified service dog for a Veteran with PTSD!
The K9's For Warriors Program/Rescue removes dogs from shelters and transports them back to their facility. After having a complete physical, the dogs are trained to meet CGC (Canine Good Citizen) standards. Upon completion, they are paired with a veteran with PTSD based upon his/her special needs and the special tasks the dog is most capable of performing. It costs approximately $10,000 to graduate one veteran/canine team from the time the dog is accepted into training. This includes housing, feeding and training with his veteran for three weeks.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a very real epidemic amongst veterans and affects up to 30 percent of all soldiers; 184 new cases are diagnosed every single day. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, one soldier commits suicide every 65 minutes. This is an alarming statistic, but studies show dogs can be very therapeutic in the treatment of PTSD and other military-related stresses.
Shari Duval (wife of PGA TOUR player Bobby Duval) was inspired to start this program by her own son. She explains, "My son, Brett Simon, returned home from two tours in Iraq as a bomb dog handler. I didn't even know what PTSD was. I only knew that my son came home a different person." She continues, "Our family noticed that when he was with his canines he was better, more like the 'old Brett.' Our family had the resources to help Brett, but we knew most do not. I spent two years researching service dog therapy and finally decided to open the K9's For Warrior Program/Rescue."
K9′s For Warrior Program/Rescue's success is a triumph for the organization. Duval commented, "The warriors arrive here broken on two legs and leave here walking into their recovery on six. They are able to go and do things that weren't possible before they received their service dog." She added, "These dogs provide more medical improvement for the warriors than all the drugs they have been placed on."
In Atlanta, we will honor David Moore who served as Staff Sergeant in the Army National Guard since he was 17. Moore served six years until he was honorably discharged in 1989. After a 16-year break, David re-enlisted in the Army National Guard. His first deployment was to Iraq in 2005 during Operation Iraqi Freedom where he suffered multiple injuries including what would later be determined as a traumatic brain injury due to an IED explosion. His second deployment was to Afghanistan in 2009 during Operation Enduring Freedom where he sustained significant damage to his vestibular system, which affects his balance and has caused significant hearing loss.
In 2011, he was formally diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and hearing loss. After seeking many treatment options both with the Veteran’s Administration and private practice, Moore's wife, Cara, found a program that treated soldiers for these injuries at Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
During Moore's time at Shepherd, it was determined that he might be a candidate for having a service dog due to his balance issues and hearing loss. Cara Moore spent weeks researching the process of obtaining a service dog and that led her to seek out assistance from K9s for Warriors because of the programs focus and dedication to wounded warriors. At that time, SSG Moore began the process of getting a new “leash on life”.
In June 2013, David started his recovery with Wilco at the K9s for Warriors facility in Ponte Vedra, Florida and has since returned to Georgia. He resides with his wife, six kids, three grandsons, and two Ragdolls cats, Milo and Gidget. SSG Moore will continue to serve with the Georgia Army National Guard until August 2013. David’s service and dedication to our country and his desire to help other wounded warriors has led him and his wife wanting to assist another wounded warrior and their family through the K9s for Warriors program.
David Moore and Wilco
Wendy Diamond will host the BARK BREAKFAST 10 City Media Tour, which will feature her hilarious new book, How To Train Your Boss To Roll Over. This brand new instructional manual will promote a positive work environment and explain how to work towards making a societal difference by raising awareness and funds for the K9′s For Warrior Program/Rescue. Our bark breakfast benefit will celebrate our wounded veterans and rally to raise awareness and donations for our American heroes that have sacrificed selflessly for our country. Dogs are welcome to breakfast treats, too! You will also get to meet the veteran and the dog that will benefit from your generous donations!
Thanks to our generous sponsors, the tour will 100% benefit K9s For Warriors. Ellen DeGeneres' pet food company, Halo, Purely for Pets knows that natural nutrition is imperative for service dogs (and all dogs) because it ensures a long, happy life with their parents, and are on board with supporting the K9s For Warriors Bark Breakfast Benefit Tour! American Express Open has partnered with us to empower and support Veteran small business owners. The Loews and Omni pet-friendly hotels are graciously providing the space for the Bark Business Breakfast, so we can gather, raise money, and get the bark out about K9s For Warriors!
Please join us in supporting a veteran with PTSD and a rescued service dog in Washington DC. You can donate as little as $10, $50, $100, $2,000, or become the honorary chair in Washington DC for $10,000! This program is 100% transparent, and 96 cents of every dollar benefits the veterans! Get involved by barking about it and donating here.
Please watch this video to understand the importance of your donation:)
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