Warrior Canine Connection Awarded 2022 Grant by the Healthcare Initiative Foundation

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Grant Funding to Support WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery Program

BOYDS, Md. – Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) is a recipient of one of 34 Healthcare Initiative Foundation (HIF) FY22 Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants, which focus on supporting Montgomery County, Maryland-based organizations that provide high-quality, comprehensive, and sustainable health and wellness services in the area. This year’s grant marks the seventh year in a row that HIF has supported WCC’s programming with funding totaling $73,000 for its programs and services to support the health and wellness of Montgomery County’s most vulnerable Veterans.

“HIF is a recognized leader in Montgomery County that’s doing great things to help local nonprofits, Warrior Canine Connection included,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, WCC. “We are so privileged to have HIF’s continued support to help provide funding for Veterans who can benefit from our Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training program.”

The MBTR model harnesses the healing power of the Warrior Ethos and the human-animal bond to reduce symptoms of combat trauma whereby patients with combat stress train dogs to assist other Veterans with invisible and/or physical wounds. The model provides recovering combat Veterans with a sense of purpose while they are recovering and is designed to remediate their symptoms of combat stress, such as isolation, emotional numbness, and re-experiencing.

“HIF is honored to continue its partnership with Warrior Canine Connection. To have a nationally recognized program located in Montgomery County that has developed and implemented cutting-edge trauma programming to serve our nation’s veterans and their families is humbling. WCC is a committed community partner, too. The Foundation is excited that WCC is continuing its partnership with the Cohen Veterans Clinic at EasterSeals to provide high-caliber recovery programming for veterans and their families. We look forward to all that we will accomplish together,” Crystal Townsend, president and CEO of Healthcare Initiative Foundation.

The Healthcare Initiative Foundation (HIF) invested a total of $1.02M to a total of 34 nonprofits serving Montgomery County, Maryland residents through its FY22 Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant Cycle. This year’s recipients are projected to serve more than 121,800 Montgomery County residents through: Healthcare Access and Behavioral Health Services, Food Security and Hub Distribution Centers, Healthcare Workforce Education, and Nonprofit Capacity Building.

For more information, please contact Beth Bourgeois, Warrior Canine Connection, at beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org or 719-216-3206.

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About Warrior Canine Connection
Warrior Canine Connection is a pioneering organization that utilizes a Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to empower returning combat Veterans who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while in service to our country. Based on the concept of Warriors helping Warriors, WCC’s therapeutic service dog training program is designed to mitigate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other challenges, while giving injured combat Veterans a sense of purpose, help in reintegrating back into their families and communities, and a potential career path as a service dog trainer. For more information, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.

About the Healthcare Initiative Foundation
The Foundation’s mission is to support organizations that offer solutions to improve the quality and delivery of health and wellness services for residents of Montgomery County, Maryland. HIF envisions a Montgomery County where residents are served by an equitable, high quality, comprehensive, cost-effective, and sustainable healthcare system To learn more, please visit: http://www.hifmc.org and like HIF on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/hifmc.

 

 

         

 

Assistance Dogs International Press Release: Research shows assistance dogs reduce symptoms and boost wellbeing among Veterans with PTSD

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April 14, 2022 – Military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) benefit from reduced symptoms and enhanced trauma treatments when they partner with assistance dogs and help with their training, according to a new review of evidence-based studies.

Seven scientific studies, published in peer-reviewed journals, found that assistance dog training and partnering produced “moderate-to-significant” lowering of PTSD symptom scores in line with those reported in gold-standard trials of trauma interventions supported by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

The studies, carried out over the past five years, looked at a range of programs, from partnering veterans with fully-trained assistance dogs to teaching veterans how to train assistance dogs. All seven studies found reduced PTSD symptoms after participants completed service dog handling instruction. Two others, which used follow-up measures, found long-term reduction in symptoms.

“Assistance dogs improve the lives of countless thousands of veterans around the world by helping with practical tasks, enhancing independence, and boosting wellbeing, dignity and confidence,” said Chris Diefenthaler, Executive Director of Assistance Dogs International (ADI). “These studies indicate that properly trained assistance dogs are both life-saving and life-changing for veterans suffering from PTSD. They are proof that assistance dogs have a major role to play in the treatment, rehabilitation and support of military veterans with severe combat trauma.”

A total of eleven assistance dog programs across the US – including eight accredited by ADI – participated in the studies, which were carried out by behavioral scientists, military psychologists, public health experts and social workers. Researchers reported that “veterans benefit significantly from dog ownership in combination with a structured dog training program. Not only do they experience significant decreases in stress and post-traumatic stress symptoms but also they experience less isolation and self-judgment while also experiencing significant improvements in self-compassion.”

One study found “a statistically significant decrease in PTSD and depression symptoms…participants reported significant reductions in anger and improvement in perceived social support and quality of life.” In another study, researchers working with veterans being treated for chronic severe combat trauma used eye-tracking technology to measure the psychological effect of training a young assistance dog. The more time veterans spent in close contact with the dog, the less time they spent looking at threatening imagery and they paid more attention to “pleasant” images.

In four studies that utilized control groups, symptoms of the assistance dog participants reduced more than those of the control group, and few improvements were found in the treatment-only comparison groups.

“The scientific evidence is conclusive,” said Rick Yount, Founder and Executive Director of ADI member Warrior Canine Connection. “These seven scientific examinations provide the long-awaited evidence that assistance dogs are both popular and effective at reducing trauma symptoms and improving the quality of life for our veterans. They also indicate that partnering with an assistant dog can enhance the perception of standard trauma treatment. PTSD is projected to remain a chronic and debilitating condition for thousands of veterans. It is imperative that assistance dogs for veterans with PTSD be fully integrated into military and veteran trauma care.”

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Notes for editors
About Assistance Dogs International (ADI)
Assistance Dogs International is the world’s leading standards-setter and accreditation body for training assistance dogs. As a worldwide coalition of nearly 150 non-profit member organizations spread across five continents, ADI is the world’s most diverse and inclusive assistance dog certification and standard-setting body. For more information visit https://assistancedogsinternational.org

 

The seven peer-reviewed studies covered by the review are:
Bergen-Cico, D., Smith, Y., Wolford, K., Gooley, C., Hannon, K., Woodruff, R., … Gump, B. (2018). Dog Ownership and Training Reduces Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Increases Self-Compassion Among Veterans: Results of a Longitudinal Control Study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 24(12), 1166–1175. http://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2018.0179

 O’Haire, M.E. and K.E. Rodriguez (2018). Preliminary efficacy of service dogs as a complementary treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in a population of military veterans. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 28, No. 2. 179-188. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5788288/

Whitworth, J.D., Scotland-Coogan, D., & Wharton, T., (April, 2019) Service dog training programs for veterans with PTSD: results of a pilot controlled study, Soc. Work Health Care, vol. 58, no. 4, pp. 412–430.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30875483/

Woodward, S. H., Jamison, A. L., Gala, S., & Holmes, T. H. (2017). Canine companionship is associated with modification of attentional bias in post traumatic stress disorder. PLoS ONE, 12(10), e0179912. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0179912

Kloep, M., Hunter, R., & Kertz, S. (2017). Examining the Effects of a Novel Training Program and Use of Psychiatric Service Dogs for Military-Related PTSD and Associated Symptoms. Am J Orthopsychiatry, 87(4), 425–433. http://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000254

Preetha A. Abraham, Josh B. Kazman, Joshua A. Bonner, Meg D. Olmert, Rick A. Yount & Patricia A. Deuster (2021) Effects of training service dogs on service members with PTSD: A pilot-feasibility randomized study with mixed methods, Military Psychology, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08995605.2021.1984126

Yarborough, B. J. H, Owen-Smith, A. A., Stumbo, S. P., Yarborough, M. T., Perrin, N.A., & Green, C. A. (Jul. 2017) An Observational Study of Service Dogs for Veterans With Post traumatic Stress Disorder,  Psychiatry. Serv., vol. 68, no. 7, pp. 730–734. https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.201500383

The ADI accredited programs involved are:
K9s For Warriors www.K9sforwarriors.org
Paws For Purple Hearts www.pawsforpurplehearts.org
Warrior Canine Connection www.warriorcanineconnection.org
Paws Assisting Veterans (PAVE) www.paveusa.org
Joys of Living Assistance Dogs (JLAD) https://www.joydogs.org
Bergin University of Canine Studies www.berginu.edu
Paws for People www.paws4people.org
Clear Paths for Veterans http://www.clearpath4vets.com (candidate program)

 

For further information and to arrange interviews, please contact:
Martin Atkin
Communications Consultant, Assistance Dogs International
martin@assistancedogsinternational.org

 

Beth Bourgeois
Media Relations Officer, Warrior Canine Connection
beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org

Warrior Canine Connection Receives Mission-Critical Equipment Grant from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation

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Boyds, Md. – With the new year in full swing, Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) is now better equipped to keep the community of Boyds safe thanks to a grant from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The $50,000 grant will be used to purchase a much-needed transportation vehicle for service dogs.

“We want to extend our gratitude to Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation and our local Firehouse Subs in Germantown for providing us with this grant,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “The transportation vehicle will be used to bring our mission-critical programming to our service dogs in training and allow our partner organizations to attend training and educational events in Boyds.” 

WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) program is unique from other service dog organizations in that the organization enlists Service Members and Veterans who are in recovery to help train the dogs for their fellow Warriors. Anchored in performing a military support mission, the participants in WCC’s MBTR program concurrently benefit from the program while serving others. Program participants receive therapeutic benefits from skills development in communication, confidence building, accountability, emotional regulation, and patience to promote an act of service.  

Providing its MBTR program at locations across multiple states, the majority of WCC’s MBTR sessions require the transport of dogs. Currently, WCC can only transport two to three service dogs in training at a time due to the small vehicles owned by the organization. With 86 dogs currently in the two-year training pipeline, and an estimated 30 additional dogs joining the program in the coming months, it is essential for WCC to have the ability to transport multiple dogs at a time.  

This year, WCC is seeing programming levels returning to pre-pandemic levels. In 2021, WCC provided more hours of MBTR service than ever before in its history — logging 3,897 hours of MBTR sessions to Veterans and is on track to break organizational records for service delivery again this year. Currently, it is estimated that one dog can impact as many as 60 different Veterans. However, as our organization grows and our population of dogs in training increases, the transportation capacity must also increase.  

For the past 16 years, donations have been the driving force behind Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation® supporting first responders and public safety organizations nationwide. During the most recent grant cycle, the Foundation awarded 127 grants to public safety organizations across the country. The 127 grants totaling nearly $3 million were given to organizations in need of critical lifesaving equipment and resources.  

For more information, please contact Beth Bourgeois, Warrior Canine Connection at beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org or 719-216-3206. 

To donate and learn more about Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, visit FirehouseSubsFoundation.org. 

 

 

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About Warrior Canine Connection
Warrior Canine Connection is a pioneering organization that utilizes a Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to empower returning combat Veterans who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while in service to our country. Based on the concept of Warriors helping Warriors, WCC’s therapeutic service dog training program is designed to mitigate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other challenges, while giving injured combat Veterans a sense of purpose, and help in reintegrating back into their families and communities. For more information, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.  
 

 

About Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation 
In 2005, the Firehouse Subs founders established the 501(c)(3), non-profit Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The charity provides lifesaving equipment, prevention education, scholarships and continued education, and disaster relief for first responders and public safety organizations, as well as support for members of the military. Since inception, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has awarded more than $65 million to hometown heroes in 49 states and Puerto Rico. 

Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is honored to be listed as a four-star nonprofit organization, the highest designation, by Charity Navigator. Charity Navigator is the nation’s largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities. Grant allocations are made possible thanks to the overwhelming support of Firehouse Subs restaurants and generous donors. More than 70% of the funds raised for the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation come from the generosity of Firehouse Subs guests and the restaurant brand. Please consider supporting a Firehouse Subs restaurant near you! To donate and learn more about Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, visit FirehouseSubsFoundation.org. 

Statement from Warrior Canine Connection on President Biden Signing PAWS Act into Law

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New legislation modeled after Warrior Canine Connection’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery Service Dog Training Model

August 26, 2021

BOYDS, Md. – In July 2008, Warrior Canine Connection Executive Director and Founder Rick Yount piloted the first Therapeutic Service Dog Training Program for Veterans at the Palo Alto VA Medical Center’s inpatient PTSD program. The testimonies from the Veterans in Rick’s program inspired lawmakers so powerfully to the degree that they asked Yount and Veterans Affairs to help draft the original language for what would become the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act. After many challenges and 13-years later, on August 25, 2021, President Biden signed the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act into law.

Under the new law, the Department of Veterans Affairs will launch a $10M, five-year pilot program that provides service dog training to benefit Veterans diagnosed with PTSD. In addition to expanding Yount’s therapeutic service dog training model to five VA hospitals around the country, it is the first law that authorizes the VA to provide support for Veterans who utilize service dogs to help them mitigate their psychological injuries.

Rick Yount, Warrior Canine Connection, issued the following statement after yesterday’s signing.

“Thank you to the leadership at the Palo Alto VA, especially Recreation Therapy Services for its forward-thinking and willingness to explore a new way of caring for hospitalized Veterans,” said Rick Yount, executive director and founder, Warrior Canine Connection. “They put their faith in me, allowing me to bring four Golden Retrievers on a daily basis into a very intense clinical setting at their Menlo Park Trauma Recovery Program. This legislation has been a long time coming, and it validates the Mission Based Trauma Recovery training model that Warrior Canine Connection created to help our Warriors in recovery. Furthermore, it underscores the importance and power of the human-animal bond and will provide significant support and resources for Veterans who can benefit from their relationship with man’s best friend.”

The $10M, five-year pilot program will take effect on January 1, 2022.

Please direct any media inquiries to Beth Bourgeois, Warrior Canine Connection, at beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org or 719-216-3206.

 

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About Warrior Canine Connection
Warrior Canine Connection is a pioneering organization that utilizes a Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to empower returning combat Veterans who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while in service to our country. Based on the concept of Warriors helping Warriors, WCC’s therapeutic service dog training program is designed to mitigate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other challenges, while giving injured combat Veterans a sense of purpose, and help in reintegrating back into their families and communities. For more information, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.

Warrior Canine Connection to Celebrate Largest Class of Veteran Service Dog Teams with Virtual Commencement Ceremony

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2021

BOYDS, Maryland – Warrior Canine Connection will celebrate its 2021 Veteran Service Dog Team Graduation, its largest class to date, with a virtual commencement ceremony on Saturday, September 25. Family, friends, and WCC supporters can watch the program on WCC’s Facebook page.

The ceremony will feature a keynote address from Senator Elizabeth Dole, video introductions and announcements of each Veteran Service Dog Team, awards, and much more. The commencement ceremony will also pay honor to each of the namesake families; all WCC’s dogs are named after Veterans, both past and present.

“Honoring our graduates through our annual commencement ceremony is one of WCC’s most important traditions,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, WCC. “Our staff, Veterans’ families, puppy parents, sponsors, volunteers, and so many others will share in the ceremonial “passing of the leash,” which signifies the official start of these powerful, life-changing, human-animal relationships.”

All the graduating service dogs will have completed WCC’s intensive, Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training conducted by Warriors in recovery who learn to train mobility service dogs for fellow Warriors as a means of addressing their own symptoms of combat stress.

Pending changes in COVID-19 restrictions or guidelines, WCC will host an in-person, outdoor celebration at 12:30 p.m. at its Healing Quarters in Boyds, Maryland. Many of this year’s graduates, puppy parents, and volunteers will be in attendance.

Media interested in attending are asked to RSVP to Beth Bourgeois, WCC, at 719-216-3206 or beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org

 

 

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About Warrior Canine Connection
Warrior Canine Connection is a pioneering organization that utilizes a Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to empower returning combat Veterans who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while in service to our country. Based on the concept of Warriors helping Warriors, WCC’s therapeutic service dog training program is designed to mitigate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other challenges, while giving injured combat Veterans a sense of purpose, and help in reintegrating back into their families and communities. For more information, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.

Warrior Canine Connection Achieves Accreditation by Assistance Dogs International

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2021

Boyds, Md. – Warrior Canine Connection, a nonprofit dedicated to breeding, training and placing highly skilled service dogs for Service Members and Veterans with visible and hidden wounds, is pleased to announce that it has achieved its 5-year reaccreditation by Assistance Dogs International (ADI). ADI is the leading authority in the Assistance Dogs industry. It establishes and promotes standards of excellence in all areas of assistance dog acquisition, training and partnership.

“Assistance Dogs International is the global authority on assistance dogs, and we are immensely proud to have received the organization’s renewed stamp of approval,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director. “We are proud to breed, train and place highly specialized service dogs with Veterans in need. We are thankful for ADI’s leadership and commitment to ensuring high standards throughout the service dog industry; they are providing a powerful impact on Veterans and many others who benefit from the love, companionship and assistance from service dogs.”

Warrior Canine Connection uses a Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training model that harnesses the healing power of the Warrior Ethos and the human-animal bond to reduce symptoms of combat trauma whereby Warriors with combat stress train the dogs to assist another Veteran with visible and/or invisible wounds. The model provides recovering combat Veterans with a sense of purpose while they are recovering and is designed to remediate their symptoms of combat stress, such as isolation, emotional numbness and re-experiencing. Each dog can positively impact up to 60 Veterans during the training process.

To date, WCC has placed a total of 94 assistance dogs with Warriors and military families. Another cadre of service dogs, WCC’s largest class since its inception, will be paired with their forever Veterans and will graduate together this September.

Once accredited, a program becomes a member of ADI. Member programs must complete a reaccreditation every five years to comply with ADI’s Standards of Practice. ADI accreditation is a peer-review process conducted by a trained ADI assessor over a period of 2-4 days. Currently there are 136 ADI accredited service dog programs in the world.

 

For more information, please contact Beth Bourgeois, Warrior Canine Connection, at beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org.

 

About Warrior Canine Connection
Warrior Canine Connection is a pioneering organization that utilizes a Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to empower returning combat Veterans who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while in service to our country. Based on the concept of Warriors helping Warriors, WCC’s therapeutic service dog training program is designed to mitigate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other challenges, while giving injured combat Veterans a sense of purpose, and help in reintegrating back into their families and communities. For more information, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.

 

About Assistance Dogs International
Assistance Dogs International (ADI) is a worldwide coalition of non-profit organizations that raise, train and place assistance dogs.  The objectives of Assistance Dogs International are to:

  • Establish and promote standards of excellence in all areas of assistance dog acquisition, training and partnership
    ●Facilitate communication and learning among member programs
    ●Educate the public to the benefits of Assistance Dogs and ADI membership.

For more information, visit www.assistancedogsinternational.org.

 

Hollywood Celebrities, War Veterans and Super-Star Dogs Go Online to Benefit Warrior Canine Connection

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
February 10, 2021 

 WHAT DO MILITARY BRATS, HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES, WAR VETERANS AND SUPER-STAR DOGS HAVE IN COMMON? They’ve all come together to bring awareness to a truly wonderful cause: providing specially trained
service dogs to Veterans. 

Join them on Monday, February 15, 2021 at 7 p.m. EST to learn more about Operation Warrior Shield’s upcoming Virtual Fundraising Gala to benefit Warrior Canine Connection! (Click on link to reserve your FREE TICKET to this virtual press announcement on February 15. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/healing-their-hidden-wounds-tickets-138779482167) 

 The Virtual Fundraising Gala details: 
Operation Warrior Shield (OWS) will be sponsoring a Virtual Fundraising Gala on Monday, March 29, 2021 at 7 p.m. EST (Vietnam Veterans Day), with all proceeds directly benefiting Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) and its placement of service dogs with Veterans. 

The Gala will feature an impressive line-up of VIP celebrities and speakers, including Lainie Kazan, actress and singer; Greta Blackburn, actress, singer and daughter of an Air Force Veteran; TONY Lo BIANCO, actor and narrator of “Just A Common Soldier”; Dabney Coleman, American actor; Andre Rush, former White House Chef and combat Veteran; Daniel Rodriguez “The Singing Policeman” and Army Veteran; Dr. Robert Koffman, CAPT (Ret.), decorated Navy combat Veteran and military psychiatrist; Errol Rappaport, Air Force Veteran and OWS Goodwill Ambassador; Edward Schloeman, CMSgt (Ret.) and founder of Operation Warrior Shield; Brigadier General Loree Sutton, New York’s veterans-affairs commissioner and formerly the Army’s highest-ranking psychiatrist; and Rick Yount, founder and executive director of Warrior Canine Connection.  

 Also featured at the event will be U.S. Air Force Veteran Ryan Garrison and his WCC service dog Luke, who was recently named 2020 Service Dog of the Year by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Ryan and Luke were paired up in 2016 by WCC. Garrison, who enlisted in the Air Force after the 9/11 attacks, was severely injured while deployed in Iraq in 2006. His injuries included fractured and torn disks in his back, which have resulted in numerous surgeries, chronic pain and anxiety. 

 Luke not only helps Garrison with his mobility and everyday tasks but since being paired with him, Garrison has been able to better control his anxiety and PTSD.  

“I feel beyond blessed to be able to share what Luke, and other WCC service dogs, can do,” said Ryan Garrison. “My hope is to encourage other veterans to take a step forward to seek help.” 

 “This event is to raise awareness and critical funds to place more service dogs with our nation’s wounded Veterans. Period,” said Edward Schloeman, CMSgt (Ret.) and founder of Operation Warrior Shield. “This is a no-fail mission.” 

“Warrior Canine Connection is privileged to work with Operation Warrior Shield, a fellow nonprofit that is making a real difference in the lives of our Veterans,” explained Rick Yount, founder and executive director of Warrior Canine Connection. “Operation Warrior Shield knows the sacrifices our Service Members and Veterans have made, as well as the value of canine therapy, and we are so thankful to have their support,” he adds. 

 
About Warrior Canine Connection: 
Warrior Canine Connection is a pioneering organization that utilizes a Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to empower returning combat Veterans who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while in service to our country. Based on the concept of Warriors helping Warriors, WCC’s therapeutic service dog training program is designed to mitigate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other challenges, while giving injured combat Veterans a sense of purpose, and help in reintegrating back into their families and communities. For more information, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org or contact Beth Bourgeois at beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org. 

About Operation Warrior Shield: 
Operation Warrior Shield, Inc. provides comprehensive support programs for service members, veterans, first responders and their families that are focused on transition, health and wellness, employment, prevention of homelessness, peer engagement, and connections to community resources. The emphasis is to help heal their hidden wounds through: Helping veterans find jobs; Eliminating veteran homelessness; Teaching Transcendental Meditation; and VETWELL, the organization’s “Community Based Holistic Wellness” program. For more information visit www.operationwarriorshield.com or contact Edward Schloeman, CMSgt (Ret.) at eschloeman@aol.com. 

Errol Rappaport 
Good Will Ambassador 
Operation Warrior Shield 
Fidelis Services Group 
Vietnam Veteran, Medic United States Air Force 
errolink@gmail.com – 310-780-1170 
 

Visit Warrior Canine Connection’s 24-hour Puppy Cam: 
https://explore.org/livecams/warrior-canine-connection/puppy-whelping-room  

 

Warrior Canine Connection Service Dog Luke Honored with 2020 AKC® Humane Fund Award for Canine Excellence (ACE)

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2020

Boyds, Md. – Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) is proud to announce that service dog Luke, a graduate of WCC’s class of 2016, was named the winner of the 21st annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE) in the service dog category.

Ryan Garrison (Beavercreek, Ohio) and Luke, a six-year-old Labrador Retriever and mobility service dog, were paired up in 2016 by WCC. Garrison, who enlisted in the Air Force after the 9/11 attacks, was severely injured while deployed in Iraq in 2006. His injuries included fractured and torn disks in his back, which have resulted in numerous surgeries, chronic pain and anxiety.

Luke not only helps Garrison with his mobility and everyday tasks but since being paired with him, Garrison has been able to better control his anxiety and PTSD.

“I feel beyond blessed to be able to share what Luke, and other WCC service dogs, can do,” said Ryan Garrison. “My hope is to encourage other veterans to take a step forward to seek help.”

The official announcement was made today on an AKC.tv special, which featured a daily episode on each of the five ACE award categories (Uniformed Service K-9, Therapy, Service, Search and Rescue and Exemplary Companion dog) that aired November 30th – December 4th. Five winners were selected from 800 impressive nominations.

“Ryan and Luke have had a special bond since day one,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “Luke started healing humans as soon as he was named after 1st Sgt Luke Mercardante, a proud Marine killed in action in Kandahar Province Afghanistan. Service dog Luke brought comfort to the Gold Star Mercardante family, the many Veterans who helped train him in WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery program, and especially to Ryan Garrison and his entire family, who regained their father and husband as they knew him.”

In January of this year, Ryan, Luke and his son were involved in a rollover vehicle crash, which triggered flashbacks of his incident in Iraq. Luke gently nudged and pawed at Ryan to pull him out of his anxiety attack. Once they were pulled to safety, Luke calmly walked over to him and took the comfort command position that he was taught at WCC. Even during such a traumatic incident, Luke followed his training and put comforting his owner ahead of anything else.

The experience with the incident earlier this year has inspired Ryan’s next challenge, Valor Therapeutics, a nonprofit he and his wife are launching to serve active duty Veterans and first responders in Dayton, Ohio and the surrounding area. They plan to provide creative arts therapies, such as music and art therapy, to individuals who’ve seen and experienced traumatic life events.

Media note: To arrange interviews or for photo requests, please contact Beth Bourgeois, Warrior Canine Connection, at 719-216-3206 or beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org.

 

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About Warrior Canine Connection
Warrior Canine Connection is a pioneering organization that utilizes a Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to empower returning combat Veterans who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while in service to our country. Based on the concept of Warriors helping Warriors, WCC’s therapeutic service dog training program is designed to mitigate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other challenges, while giving injured combat Veterans a sense of purpose, and help in reintegrating back into their families and communities. For more information, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.  

The AKC Humane Fund, Inc. unites animal lovers in promoting the joy and value of responsible pet ownership through education, outreach and grant-making. The Fund provides financial grants to domestic violence shelters and Breed Rescue organizations and awards scholarships to students pursuing professions that strengthen the human-animal bond. The AKC Humane Fund’s Awards for Canine Excellence are given each year to promote the important role dogs play in our lives. Contributions to the AKC Humane Fund are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. For more information, visit www.akchumanefund.org.

The American Kennel Club
Founded in 1884, the American Kennel Club is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function.  Along with its more than 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 22,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred and mixed breed dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Reunite and the AKC Museum of the Dog.  For more information, visit www.akc.org.

AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc.
Become a fan of the American Kennel Club on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @AKCDogLovers.

Warrior Canine Connection Awarded $35,000 Grant from SAGA Foundation for Menlo Park Program

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2020

BOYDS, Md. – Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) has received a $35,000 grant from SAGA Foundation to support its therapeutic service dog training program at its Menlo Park Campus of the VA Palo Alto Care System. This marks the third grant to WCC from SAGA, bringing the organization’s contribution to WCC to nearly $100,000.

WCC’s program is unique from other service dog organizations in that it enlists Service Members and Veterans who are in recovery to help train the dogs for their fellow Warriors. Anchored in performing a military support mission, the participants in WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) program concurrently benefit from the program while serving others. Program participants receive therapeutic benefits from skills development in communication, confidence building, accountability, emotional regulation and patience to promote an act of service.

“We appreciate SAGA Foundation’s continued support and sustained commitment to helping Veterans in need,” said Rick Yount, executive director and founder, Warrior Canine Connection. “This grant funding is crucial in helping us to continue providing Veterans in California with the healing benefits that come from the human-animal bond.”

Due to support provided by SAGA Foundation, in 2019, WCC’s was able to achieve the following impact in California:

  • Engaged 56 new California Veterans and military family members in programming, 79% of whom reported an overall elevation in their mood and reduction in their stress level following participation in WCC’s MBTR program
  • Provided 797 hours of Mission Based Trauma Recovery training at no-cost to Veterans, with 98% reporting high levels of satisfaction with their progress in the program
  • Trained seven service dogs with the assistance of wounded Veterans
  • Placed two service dogs with California-based disabled Veterans
  • Supported a long-term WCC facility dog who proudly serves at the VA in Menlo Park.

“SAGA Foundation recognizes those who have sacrificed so that we can live in a free country,” said David Bartoshuk, president of SAGA Foundation. “We are grateful to be able to help our veterans by way of this amazing, impactful program.”

WCC has been providing its Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training program for Veterans at the Menlo Park Campus of the Palo Alto Health Care System since 2012.

SAGA Foundation awards annual grants through a selective application and review process, placing priority on organizations that focus on leadership, underserved youth, safety & security and global peace.

For more information, please contact Beth Bourgeois, Warrior Canine Connection, at beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org.

 

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About Warrior Canine Connection
Warrior Canine Connection is a pioneering organization that utilizes a Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to empower returning combat Veterans who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while in service to our country. Based on the concept of Warriors helping Warriors, WCC’s therapeutic service dog training program is designed to mitigate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other challenges, while giving injured combat Veterans a sense of purpose, and help in reintegrating back into their families and communities. For more information, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.  

About SAGA Foundation
SAGA Foundation assists nonprofit organizations focusing on the issues of leadership, underserved youth, safety and security, and global peace. We collaborate with nonpartisan, nondenominational, entrepreneurial nonprofit organizations to help them work smarter, reach further, and have lasting impact. Visit https://sagafoundation.org/ to learn more.

Join us on Saturday, September 26th for Warrior Canine Connection’s 2020 Virtual Graduation

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Be sure to tune-in to WCC’s Facebook page at 11 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, September 26th for Warrior Canine Connection’s eighth annual graduation. The ceremony will include this year’s graduating Veteran Service Dog Teams, as well as inspiring stories, special awards, shout-outs and more!

This year’s ceremony will mark WCC’s first virtual ceremony, and despite the format change, the event still promises to be one not-to-miss!

Simply log-on to WCC’s Facebook page here on Saturday at 11 a.m. E.T. to join the celebration! You can follow along with our WCC 2020 Graduation Program here.

We look forward to seeing you then!

Contact Us

14934 Schaeffer Road
Boyds, MD 20841

(T) 301.260.1111
info@warriorcanineconnection.org

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Warrior Canine Connection
is a 501(c)(3)
Nonprofit Organization
# 45-2981579