PatriotPaws: Helping Veterans with Service Dogs

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By JohnPosted In: Animals and Nature, PatriotPaws, Service dogsTagged: , ,

PatriotPaws is a unique charity that supports veterans through the use of service dogs.

PatriotPaws trains dogs and provides them at no cost to veterans who require physical or emotional support. Veterans with mobility issues or post-traumatic-stress-disorder often find that a service dog increases their independence while simultaneously decreasing loneliness.

PatriotPaws was founded by Lori Stevens in 2006. She founded the charity with a belief in the healing power of animal therapy.

Incredibly, it’s not only the recipients of service dogs that are helped. PatriotPaws has partnered with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to allow inmates to be part of the dog training process. Three prison facilities have successfully partnered with this innovative program.

Volunteers, especially other veterans, are welcome to pitch in for this wonderful cause.

Dog-Washing Events Raise Money for Man’s Best Friend

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By JohnPosted In: Animals and NatureTagged: , , , , , ,

 

Service Dog and Child

Dogtopia branches throughout the United States have held dog-washing events in an effort to raise money for service, therapy, military and police dogs. Charity Dog Wash events took place in local areas including Tysons Corner, Alexandria, Manassas, Woodbridge, Herndon and Dulles.

More than 1,750 dogs were washed and groomed over the past week, and the drive raised almost $21,000 for Dogtopia’s charity K9 Support. This organization helps other institutes purchase specialized equipment for search and rescue dogs. Contributions will go to Virginia Task Force 1, an urban search-and-rescue team that operates all over the world.

Dogtopia’s founder and CEO Amy Nichols explained:

“With the state of the economy and funding cut across the country, it is more important than ever to give back to the working dogs in our communities. I am so excited to see the community involvement and to watch this event grow every year. We are truly making a different in the lives of these canines and the people who love them.”

She added,

“The Dogtopia annual K9 Support dog wash is our biggest event of the year to raise funds for working dogs. I’m overjoyed to see so many of our locations working together to raise much needed awareness for the loyal canines that are dedicated to humans every day. Most family dogs leads pampered lives, and we want to show our appreciation for those working dogs that strive to protect and support their human counterparts.”