Training Rescue Dogs as Service Dogs for Veterans

"I adopted a young yellow lab, through Canines With a Cause. At first, he was so crazy and hyper. I often considered returning him, and giving up being his forever home. His name is Romeo. He saved my life. Keeping him was like deciding to live. Suicide was no longer an option. I needed him. He needed me. We toughed it out. Now we are better friends then I could have ever imagined. I thank CWAC for saving Romeo from a shelter, and indirectly saving me from suicide."

Cameron contacted CWAC regarding getting a companion dog several years ago. Romeo seemed like a good fit, he was a young energetic Lab, perfect for an active, young man recently out of the service and getting on with his life. They attended training classes for a short while and seemed to be doing well, little did we know of Cameron's struggles with the young dog and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Thanks to the support of generous donors like you, CWAC will now be able to provide trained assistance dogs, free of charge, to qualified veterans. Our prison-based training program is ready to launch next month. Dogs will be saved from high-kill shelters, from there they will move into a local women's prison where they will live with two offenders who will train and take care of them. When they are able to pass certification testing and have appropriate skills and manners, they will be placed with veterans like Cameron. 

The benefits of the program are three-fold. The offenders learn responsibility and skills that can help with employment upon release (dog training and grooming). They are also given the opportunity to give something back to the community. Shelter dogs are rescued and trained to be special companions or assistance dogs for veterans and other individuals in need, and the recipients of the dogs benefit from their service, unconditional love and companionship.

Studies suggest dogs may actually be able to repair certain mental health issues thanks to their positive influence on human brain chemistry and function.

GlobalGiving is offering nine bonus awards (including a $3,000 and $2,000 prize!) to the projects that raise the most money from their supporters in the month of December, beginning at 12:01 am on December 1st. Projects must raise at least $3,000 from 30 donors in order to qualify for a bonus award.

Please help us qualify for a bonus award. Your continued support allows us to expand and improve our programs benefitting those who have served and shelter dogs who deserve another chance.

Thank you,

Cathy King

Links:

• prison program news article
• Prison PTSD dog training article
• An Inmate's Best Friend-video

Titan was brought home as a puppy to help a young man recover from his heroin addiction. After several years and finding sobriety, the young man moved on with his life leaving Titan behind with parents who did not wish to keep him. Titan had become very attached to his family, as a big German Shepard who suffered with separation anxiety he would have a difficult time finding a new home in an animal shelter.

Luckily, one of the family members contacted Canines With a Cause regarding finding him a home with a veteran since he was unofficially a service dog. Titan's timing was good, one of the veterans in the program was interested in adopting a German Shepard . Shannon Ciccarelli, a CWAC trainer, picked up Titan and brought him to training class to meet his potential new partner.

Sadly, the adoption did not work out as the interested veteran attended school several hours a day and Titan could not be left alone due to his separation anxiety. Since he couldn't go back home, he went to the CWAC kennel to wait for his chance to find a new home; it didn't take long.

Several days later a call was received from a young woman interested in Titan as a companion for her brother Shane; a National Guardsman suffering from a serious accident. He had just lost a beloved companion who was also a German Shepard, he was living at home with his parents and had plenty of time to spend with Titan, they drove up to meet him that afternoon.

It was love at first sight, Titan snuggled up to Shane and we all knew she was the one to help him recover from his wounds. Once again, Titan would be a loyal companion to help his person recover, this time he would not be abandoned by the person he helped.

This happy-ever-after story is what makes our work so important, we hear them frequently. Your donations are the fuel that keeps our program going, helping people like Shane and dogs like Titan.

Thank you for your support.

Cathy King