
"How Important Are Dogs For the Mental Health of Recovering Veterans?" News Article
Source: Click here Service dogs have a long and distinguished history helping physically impaired people live more productive lives, including assisting military veterans. More recently, dogs have been found to be important players in veterans’ recovery from mental and emotional wounds. Dr. Elspeth Cameron Ritchie is a retired Army colonel and a psychiatrist with expertise in military and veterans' issues. She retired from the Army in 2010, after holding numerous leadership p

"Therapy Dogs Comfort Survivor of Las Vegas Shooting" ABC News article
Source: Click here A group of therapy dogs are being flown to Las Vegas to comfort survivors from Sunday's mass shooting in Las Vegas. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs, affiliated with Lutheran Church Charities, are helping survivors, families of victims, first responders and others after a suspected shooter Stephen Paddock opened fire during the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival, killing 58 people and injuring nearly 500. "The key is for people to cry and for people to start talking a

"It's time to take pets seriously as mental illness support, say scientists" news arti
Source: click here "Pets can provide incredible value to our lives, but a new study suggests that it's time doctors and mental health services started considering them more seriously as a source of mental health support. The research shows that not only are pets great for our general wellbeing, they can also greatly help people manage long-term mental illness - a benefit that's been overlooked by doctors in the past. "Pets should be considered a main rather than a marginal so

"The Role of Service Dogs" news article
Source: click here "Service dogs, you may be surprised to learn, are not necessarily professionally trained -- and they can assist people with a wide variety of disabilities, including post traumatic stress disorder. WMRA’s Christopher Clymer Kurtz reports. Lucy [bark] started out as a good deed about two years ago, when Bridgewater resident Aaron Carriker responded to a call for a puppy rescue. AARON CARRIKER: She was found in snow and ice with a litter of nine and four had


Now accepting dog placement applications for 2017!
We are always accepting applications for dog placements. If you are a veteran who feels that you would benefit from the companionship of a German Shepherd - please CLICK HERE to view our application in PDF format. As a reminder, here are a few things to consider: Please allow 4-6 weeks for our committee to process your application. Filling out an application DOES NOT guarantee the placement of a GSD. Please don’t allow the length of the application to deter you from filling o

"Texas Lowe's hires veteran and his service dog" news article
Source: click here An Air Force veteran and his service dog, Charlotte, are working side-by-side at Lowe's. An Abilene home improvement store has two new employees: one with two legs, another with four. (Photo: Provided to KXVA-TV) ABILENE, Texas - An Abilene home improvement store has two new employees: one with two legs, another with four. Clay Luthy, an Air Force veteran and his service dog, Charlotte, are working side-by-side at Lowe's in Abilene, Texas. “I got her as a p

"Why a 'Friend', Especially a Dog, Can Improve Mental Health" news article
Source: click here “Friend” is a reddish-brown submarine of a dog not unlike a cross between a miniature Jersey cow and tan Easter Bunny. His extra long hash-brown colored ears, silkier than satin, frame his stoic, bovine face. Friend cuts an imposing figure based on bulk — but he’s a gentle giant — and that’s why my wife and I decided to call him “Friend,” not “Frank,” as he was named by the rescue organization from which we adopted him. Dog people (“people of the dog,” dog

"Feeling depressed? There's a Dog for That" news article
Source: click here Sometimes when you’re down, all it takes is a lick to the face or a furry cuddle to lift your spirits. But what if your stress runs deep, if you’re anxious and nervous to leave the house, and find yourself depressed or even suicidal—can a dog still help bring you back? Studies now overwhelmingly show service and companion animals alike are effective at treating depression and anxiety, as well as improving your overall health. We’re exploring the reasons why

Letty & Steven update
We love seeing this happy updates following our dog placements through Dane's Dogs for Vets!
You can SEE the love between these two.. #dog #fund
"Service Dogs can Heal Veterans Suffering from PTSD" opinion article
Source: click here On National Purple Heart Day, observed on Aug. 7, the nation paused to honor the decorated men and women wounded in combat while serving our country. But as we reflect on these noble sacrifices, Americans should remember to also recognize the veterans grappling with the invisible wounds of war who are ineligible for the Purple Heart and often overlooked or forgotten. I should know: I was humbled to earn the Purple Heart for the bullet wounds I sustained in