Training Rescue Dogs as Service Dogs for Veterans

When Army Veteran Robert first contacted Canines With a Cause he was living on the streets of Salt Lake City, Utah. Homeless and addicted to drugs and alcohol, numbing the pain of memories of time serving his country in Iraq, and the atrocities of war. Robert had lost his wife and his life was slipping away.... A dog was his only hope.

Robert moved into a half-way house for veterans dealing with homelessness and addiction, The First Step House. After getting settled, he once again contacted CWAC about getting a dog. 

One of the dogs currently living and training in the Utah State Women’s Prison was a yellow Lab by the name of Hazel. Hazel was rescued from a breeder, most of her life was spent in a small wire crate. She had never slept on a soft bed or had the freedom to wander, the handlers in prison made sure that changed. She wandered the prison yard and enjoyed a comfortable bed made from prison blankets. She was a gentle soul, looking for her soul mate.

It was match made in heaven, Hazel moved into First Step and became a comfort dog to not only Robert, but other veterans in the home trying to get their lives back. Robert and Hazel now live in their own apartment, Hazel rides the bus and goes everywhere with her new life partner. Robert has been clean since pairing with Hazel, the dog who changed his life.

Canine With a Cause has placed dogs in addiction recovery facilities for the past four years. We know dogs can help people recover from addiction with quiet, unconditional love. They can give people a reason to get on with their lives in a responsible manner.

We are now working with The First Step House, placing comfort dogs for those veterans who benefit from their company and hope to get on with their lives. We look forward to more “Happy Ever After” stories like Robert and Hazel.

Thank you for your support in making these special stories happen.

Sincerely,

Cathy

Nine years ago, this month, Canines With a Cause became a reality. The concept of pairing shelter dogs with veterans returning home with PTSD wasn't readily accepted by the VA or others who feared the dogs would only create more anxiety for the veteran. The idea of a veteran training their own service dog was also difficult for many to understand.

Here we are, hundreds of successful veteran/dog teams later. Not only has our research with the National Center for Veteran Studies at the University of Utah validated our concept of veterans benefiting from the actually training process, our partnership with local prisons has made the assessment and training process much easier and cost effective, the offenders in prison also benefit from the process.

Please take the time to watch this important five-minute documentary about our process and meet some of the people who've benefited from this program on the video link below.

These amazing, life-changing stories are possible because of caring, generous people like you. With CWAC's expansion to Nevada, Idaho and Southern Utah, we plan on making sure more of these stories are possible.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Sincerely,

Cathy

Links:

• Canines With a Cause Mini Documentary