Rescued Dogs Rescuing Our Veterans

Recently I saw a short TV segment about dogs who were paired with veterans with post traumatic stress disorder.  The TV clip showed the dogs and their veterans in a room participating in different kinds of obedience training.  Individuals and their service dogs were also shown at home and out and about.  There were all kinds of dogs being paired with veterans.  The dogs had been rescued from shelters where they had been on the list for euthanization. This touched my heart more than I can tell you.  To think that the dogs had been saved and were in turn saving the emotional and physical lives of wounded veterans.  The effect that the dogs had in calming and helping these people through stressful situations was amazing.  The idea of being responsible for the dog, and sharing love, was helping these veterans in more than one way.  This program, being done by Morgan's Dogs, is different than others that train dogs to work with veterans.  In this program, the veterans and the dogs are trained together, and the veterans do not have to wait for a dog that may be in training for two years. These are full service dogs and can accompany their veteran partner anywhere he or she goes.  What a beautiful concept:  rescued dogs rescuing veterans from their trauma and making their lives as civilians calmer and easier.  To read more about this wonderful project, click here:  http://wardogsmakingithome.org/about/us

This post prepared by Pam Todd, a member of the Crafting for Animals Guild on Art Fire, and whose studio, Bags and More by Pam, features hand-crocheted items for people, pets, and homes.  Pam supports The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, and plans to become a supporter of the program described above.  Veterans have done so much for us.  What an opportunity to do a little something for them.

The Tough Work of Search and Rescue Dogs.....by Debra of Sleepy Cat Designs

Sometimes when watching reports about natural disasters that have claimed many lives, we hear briefly about search and rescue teams working to find survivors and those who did not make it. It must be a horrendous task for anyone willing to help with this.

Recently in a newsletter from www.gopetplan.com, the insurance company which supplies a policy for my cat, Chester, I read about dogs who are trained to help the people doing these types of jobs and how much the dogs really make a difference in this daunting work. You can read more about it at www.SearchDogFoundation.org.

It’s a truly amazing organization which provides the kind of help that most of us could never give, no matter how much we want to help. The majority of people sitting at home watch the reports and feel so sorry for the devastated families and animals who have just been through a disaster of some sort. But, without the search and rescue teams, these disasters would take an even larger toll on the families and friends affected by such tragedies.

The dogs work so hard and yet never ever complain. Some even lose their own lives in an effort to locate the missing. Really gut-wrenching work for the dogs and the humans involved but the kind of job that has to be done, a vital part of the entire recovery process for all concerned.

9/11 Mike Scott & Billy
Photo: Andrea Booher, FEMA News Photo

Because money is one of the most needed resources during natural disasters of any type, many of us try to donate what we can to support different groups during such tragedies. And I wanted to be sure we know about this organization so we can help a little bit at times as well so they can continue providing this extremely important service. It’s an expensive undertaking to train the dogs as well as provide the services of the rescue teams when needed. Sadly, they are needed far too often these days.

Jim Boggeri & Recon - Hurricane Katrina

Stock Photo from website

So if you are looking for a new organization to support from time to time, please consider SearchDogFoundation.org. They make it easy on their website to learn all about what they are doing and how any donations can be made and will be appreciated and put to good use.

I was very moved by what I read on the website after reading the article I mentioned above. And that is why I wanted to share this with everyone.


Submitted by: Debra of Sleepy Cat Designs and Sew Bizzy Gifts; Debra has loved many dogs and cats and other furry friends over the last 5 decades and continues to support various rescue groups and shelters in the Tucson area as well as nationwide whenever possible. Be sure to shop with Debra in both her ArtFire studios in honor of National Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month; read all about the special coupon promotion HERE or the box below.