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Warrior Canine Connection enlists recovering Warriors in a therapeutic mission of learning to train service dogs for their fellow Veterans.
Warrior Canine Connection
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WCC’s Mosko — Service Dog in Training and Living Legacy

December 5, 2022/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact /by WCC Comms

Gold Star Dad John Mosko has an online blog now used to memorialize his son, Navy Lieutenant Christopher “Chris” Mosko, who was killed in Afghanistan. The process was therapeutic, albeit very emotional for him. The practice allowed him to openly share his thoughts, feelings, and grief, but perhaps even more purposeful, was a way to keep Chris’ memory alive.  

Chris was an explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) technician. He was killed on a road in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device (IED) on April 26, 2012. John says not a day goes by that he, his wife, Gayle, and daughter, Meredith, don’t think about Chris.

So, when John and Gayle were approached by the University of Pennsylvania NROTC unit about having a Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) service dog in training named after Chris, it was an automatic yes.  

John shared a story about their family’s first pet — a black Lab named Topper. The kids, Chris and his younger sister, Meredith, were young — in the single digits at the time. John says Topper and Chris were fast friends, pretty much inseparable — they grew up together. So, when John learned WCC’s Mosko, named for Chris, was a black Lab, it just felt right. 

“We are excited that Mosko’s been named after Chris, it’s one more way to keep his memory alive and share stories about him,” said John. “And to know this dog will go on to help other Veterans, it’s very much in line with how Chris lived his life — reaching out to others, helping them, and being appreciative of what he had and of others.”

Military service was a calling for Chris. John recalls an early moment he traces back to his first inclination Chris would go on to serve his country.  

“When he was about 5 years old, we were watching the Army vs. Navy game, and Chris said, ‘one day I want to be one of them and he pointed to the Midshipmen,’” shared John. “And sure enough, years later, he ended up going into the ROTC program.” 

Chris attended Drexel University, where he studied commerce and engineering. A soccer player in high school, Chris tried out for Drexel’s soccer team while simultaneously attending ROTC orientation. Afterward, he was offered a redshirt position on the soccer team, much to his and his family’s surprise, and a spot on the ROTC squad. John said his choice was immediately clear.

“Chris said ‘that ROTC orientation week was the best week of my life,’” said John. “It wasn’t an easy week, either. They put those kids through the ringer to make sure they knew what they’re getting themselves into and that they would honor their commitment.” John added, “He loved it, loved his teammates, and just loved the whole ROTC community.” 

Although Chris attended Drexel, he participated in the ROTC program through the University of Pennsylvania — which still serves as the host ROTC program for all Philadelphia area colleges and universities. It’s where Chris met his wife, Amanda, who was also in the ROTC program.

The ROTC program at Penn is also a new training site for WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) service dog training program, where WCC’s Mosko trains with area Veteran students and faculty. WCC’s MBTR program teaches Veterans to train service dogs for their fellow Warriors. The program fulfills a time-honored military tradition of Warriors helping Warriors, and in doing so, Veterans can also benefit from their own skills development in communication, confidence building, accountability, emotional regulation and patience.

John says Chris’s affinity to serve likely started with his own father, Milton Mosko, who served in the U.S. Army and fought in Korea.  

“When Chris hit ROTC, he and my dad talked about stuff my dad never talked to me about, so there was a bond between them,” said John. “What Chris was doing really opened up my dad to talk about it a little bit more. One really special moment for us all was when Chris was commissioned at the Union League in Philadelphia and my dad was there to put his bars on.”

John says losing his son has been the one great tragedy in his family’s lives. 

“We still try to laugh and do find joy in things, but there are no guarantees in life or for tomorrow,” said John. “So, we try to do things to keep his name alive, honor him, and introduce him through stories to those who never had the chance to meet him.” 

Chris lives on in dinner table conversations, family gatherings, holidays, anniversaries, through Veterans’ events the Moskos attend, and now, through a little black Lab named in his honor. 

https://warriorcanineconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white.svg 0 0 WCC Comms https://warriorcanineconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white.svg WCC Comms2022-12-05 22:09:442022-12-07 15:21:06WCC’s Mosko — Service Dog in Training and Living Legacy

WCC Programs Expand Reach

December 5, 2022/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact /by WCC Comms

Warrior Canine Connection’s programs continue to see growth, both locally in nearby Frederick, Maryland, as well as at two new sites — one in Pennsylvania and another in Virginia.

November marked the official start of WCC’s new program at the University of Pennsylvania in collaboration with its Perelman School of Medicine and Veterans Care Excellence Program (VCEP). The program provides WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training program on campus for area Veteran students, staff and community members, and has five service dogs in training on site.

Funding for the WCC program at Penn was provided by Team Foster, a local Philadelphia-based Veteran support organization dedicated to serving disabled Veterans through community support, Veteran peers and highly trained service dogs.

Also in November, roughly 20 miles from WCC’s Healing Quarters in Boyds, Platoon 22, a non-profit organization who mission is to end Veteran suicide opened the doors to its new Platoon Veteran Services Center at Goodwill in Frederick, Md. The space provides much-needed resources and support for Veterans transitioning from service to civilian life. WCC is offering its Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) programming on-site several days a week as one of its ongoing support programs.

In Virginia, WCC has begun working with the Rappahannock Regional Veterans Treatment Docket which is being held at the Spotsylvania Circuit Court in Northern Virginia. In support of this Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) programming, WCC is engaging Veterans in MBTR classes to satisfy community service hours—often a requirement for graduation from the court. The dog training — offered through WCC — is one of the options on the docket. Training takes place on a weekly basis at the courthouse and Veterans can ​participate within the WCC program for the duration of their VTC commitment. The program is in addition to WCC VTC programming taking place at locations in California, Maryland and North Carolina.

https://warriorcanineconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white.svg 0 0 WCC Comms https://warriorcanineconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white.svg WCC Comms2022-12-05 21:58:322022-12-06 20:28:08WCC Programs Expand Reach

Military Family Appreciation Month: WCC’s Hullett — the Piece the Bell Family Didn’t Know They Were Missing

November 18, 2022/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact /by WCC Comms

Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) is proud to observe National Military Family Appreciation Month — a time to recognize and honor the sacrifices military family members make while supporting their servicemen and women. Our programs, which serve Service Members and Veterans, all directly benefit from the contributions of military family members as staff, Puppy Parents and volunteers.

WCC’s No-Fail Mission not only pairs service dogs with Veterans, but it also provides support to Veterans and military family members through the placement of its Military Family Support Dogs (MFSD). The Bell family is one of many who has received a WCC MFSD earlier this year. And as they told us, they can’t imagine their lives without Hullett, a lovable yellow Labrador Retriever.

A family of five, the Bell family is always bustling; kids are seemingly always running to sports, extracurricular events and friend’s houses. There’s Myla, 14; Macie, 12; Branson, 10; Amy, also known as “mom;” and Michael, aka “dad,” U.S. Marine Corps Major in his 22nd year of active-duty service. So as Amy told us, they were curious how Hullett joining their family might impact their routines.

“He [Hullett] is the missing piece we never knew … he’s a just the best, we can’t imagine life without him now, he’s involved in our everyday decisions of what we do, where we go, and if he’s coming with us,” said Amy Bell. “Our family dynamic has changed for the better. With such a busy household, he has actually helped bind us, taught the kids responsibility through their chores and, of course, he provides tons of fun and is always giving us something to talk about.”

Hullett initially went through advanced training but based on his strengths and skills, WCC trainers found him to be a better fit as a MFSD. Trainers describe him as a smart, driven boy who loves to cuddle and be surrounded by people.

When it came to being paired with a dog from WCC, neither coat color nor gender mattered to the Bells, Amy said their only pre-requisite, which was her specific request, was “my dog must love the water,” (said with a laugh). Mission complete: Hullett spent his first summer with the Bell family enjoying the backyard pool.

Hullett is named after Army Sergeant First Class David W. Hullett, Retired, who dedicated his life to serving his country and others in need. During his military career of 21 years, he was deployed to Asia, Europe and Africa, including a very challenging humanitarian mission to Somalia in support of Operation Restore Hope. Upon his return from Somalia, Sergeant First Class Hullett and his family moved to Panama where he provided support to Operations Safe Haven and Safe Passage while assigned to the Jungle Operations Training Center.

Amy says being a member of a military family, the namesake is super special and loves when people ask about his name and sharing information about David and his service. Learn more about the Bell family here.

If you would like to learn more about WCC’s MFSD program, click here.

https://warriorcanineconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white.svg 0 0 WCC Comms https://warriorcanineconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white.svg WCC Comms2022-11-18 15:38:192022-11-18 15:38:19Military Family Appreciation Month: WCC’s Hullett — the Piece the Bell Family Didn’t Know They Were Missing

Every Name Has a Story

September 30, 2022/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact /by WCC Comms

One of the unique ways Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) honors Veterans is through its namesake program. All future service dogs are named after Service Members and Veterans who have made significant contributions to our nation. 

The namesake program has a profound impact on those being honored as well as their family and friends. United States Army Chief Warrant Officer Erik Kesterson was nominated by his mother, Dolores Kesterson. Erik was killed in action in Iraq in 2003 while serving as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot for the 101st Airborne Division. Dolores had the opportunity to virtually meet the service dog named in honor of Erik. 

“He looks like he has Erik’s spirit in him,” Dolores said while wiping her eyes with a tissue. “Just looking at him, he’s touched my life. He’s just beautiful. Erik would be so honored.” 

Another distinctive aspect of WCC’s program is that it enlists Service Members and Veterans to help train the service dogs for others. This No-Fail Mission aligns with the warrior ethos of caring for your brother and sister in arms. The Veterans and Service Members doing the training know their hard work will contribute to helping a fellow Veteran or Service Member in need, while also receiving therapeutic benefits themselves. 

United States Navy Lieutenant Commander Danielle “Purple” Thiriot is an active-duty Service Member who was also nominated for WCC’s namesake program. The service dog bearing her name was recently placed with a Veteran, and Danielle shared how much it means to her knowing a service dog named in her honor is helping other Veterans. 

“It’s an honor to have ‘Purple’ named after me and to know that she will live a life dedicated to serving Veterans,” said Danielle. She was even able to meet the dog named in her honor. “I love dogs and have enjoyed watching her progress through training. I had the chance to meet ‘Purple’ in California last year and learned we share a love of food!” 

The namesake program is a special part of WCC’s mission. Not only is the organization dedicated to helping and serving Veterans and Service Members suffering from visible and invisible wounds with its MBTR program, but it’s important to remember and celebrate Veterans with the namesake program. 

“Our Service dogs have an important mission—to carry on the legacies of these heroes while helping recovering Veterans who have sacrificed so much for our nation,” says Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “We feel it’s important that those Veterans have their stories told and their lives honored through our namesake program. We believe when a Veteran’s name is spoken, they are always remembered.” 

https://warriorcanineconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white.svg 0 0 WCC Comms https://warriorcanineconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white.svg WCC Comms2022-09-30 15:40:202022-10-04 15:18:53Every Name Has a Story

Congratulations to WCC’s Class of 2022!

September 30, 2022/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact /by WCC Comms

Warrior Canine Connection was honored to introduce its 2022 graduating class of Veteran Service Dog Teams, Facility, Military Family Support and Breeder Dogs—19 in total and its largest class to date—during its tenth annual graduation on Saturday, September 24th.

This year’s ceremony took place virtually, with hundreds of supporters tuning from all over the globe via Facebook live to watch. The ceremony was capped by a story about each graduating Veteran Service Dog Team, along with keynote remarks from Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. There was an outpouring of comments posted live on the page about the dogs, this year’s placements, namesakes, and more. (And although we couldn’t see them, we heard there were a few tears, too).

For those of you who missed the ceremony or perhaps would like to watch all the amazing Veteran Service Dog Team stories again, you can watch it online here.

Again, congratulations and best wishes to WCC’s Class of 2022!

https://warriorcanineconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white.svg 0 0 WCC Comms https://warriorcanineconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white.svg WCC Comms2022-09-30 15:25:012022-10-04 15:17:16Congratulations to WCC’s Class of 2022!

Hugglehounds Creates WCC’s Luke and Tommy II Lookalikes to Help Raise Funds for WCC

September 30, 2022/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact /by WCC Comms

Okay, so how cute are these guys? Did you know these two adorable pups are named after real-life Warrior Canine Connection service dogs? Yep, that’s right, you’re looking at WCC’s Luke (black Lab) and WCC’s Tommy II (yellow Lab), and yes, they’re both wearing WCC camo service vests! 

This year, Hugglehounds’ Huggle Cause™ initiative is supporting WCC by donating a portion of proceeds from the sale of every Limited-Edition Luke and Tommy II Knottie® to WCC’s No-Fail Mission. 

When Ryan Garrison, Air Force Veteran, learned his service dog Luke had a toy named after him, he immediately jumped online and placed an order.  

“With PTSD, I have flashbacks to negative times but seeing this gave me a flashback and a flood of memories — Luke winning the AKC Award and getting paired with him,” said Garrison. “It’s always a good day when you get those kinds of flashbacks. We ended up buying a little more than one; Luke got one, both boys got one, and I got one to put away for safe keeping. Luke is a very special dog with an amazing talent and dedication to his mission. I am very honored and humbled that Hugglehounds made a toy to represent Warrior Canine Connection.”

Air Force Veteran Ryan Boyles, who is paired with WCC’s Tommy II, was also surprised by the very special designation.

“When we found out we were so excited we rushed to the site to buy one,” said Boyles. “We were completely caught off guard and had no idea that they were naming the new stuffy after our Tommy.  When we got our Hugglehound in we showed Tommy, who instantly turned back into a puppy. He ran all over playing. He loves his new Hugglehound.” 

You, too, can purchase your very own Limited-Edition Luke and Tommy II Knottie® from Hugglehounds here. Better act quickly, as once they’re gone, they’re gone. Thankfully, their service dog namesakes live on and continue to bring smiles and support to their Veterans and their families.  

https://warriorcanineconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white.svg 0 0 WCC Comms https://warriorcanineconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white.svg WCC Comms2022-09-30 15:15:382022-09-30 15:15:38Hugglehounds Creates WCC’s Luke and Tommy II Lookalikes to Help Raise Funds for WCC

Suzanne & Holli Ann Take on the 2022 Warrior Games

September 29, 2022/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact, Warrior Stories /by WCC Comms

This year, Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) had one of its own participate in the Department of Defense’s annual “Warrior Games,” an athletic competition for Service Members and Veterans with visible and invisible wounds that is televised on ESPN. CAPT (Ret.) Suzanne Brown, who served in the United States Coast Guard for over 25 years and is now a Service Dog Training Instructor for WCC, had the opportunity to travel to Orlando for two weeks in August to compete. Suzanne was accompanied by her service dog, WCC’s Holli Ann, and came home with 10 medals and some wonderful stories to share.  

“The overall experience was pretty amazing. It was amazing being around all the other wounded Warriors and seeing each other overcoming challenges whether they are physical or emotional,” said Suzanne. “I definitely made some new friends and even people who we were competing against, you become friends. Everyone is supporting each other. You want to win but it’s about supporting each other.” 

While Suzanne participated in cycling, rowing, track, and swimming, she had a clear favorite. 

“Swimming was my favorite by far. That’s my happy place. I’m very comfortable in the pool. It’s so great to be able to get back to swimming.” Suzanne credits Holli Ann for helping her feel comfortable in a pool again after her service. “It had been a number of years. Some of the struggles were just getting to a pool and being comfortable in that loud and crowded environment again. Holli Ann helped me because I had to focus on her instead of focusing on my fears. I had to focus on getting her used to the environment,” said Suzanne. 

When Suzanne took Holli Ann with her to cheer on teammates in the rowing competition, it was Holli Ann who grabbed ESPN’s attention. “We were going to go cheer everyone else on. I had Holli Ann by my side and we went and stood right in the middle of the cheering section with all the people I knew in front of the rowers. Holli Ann was on ESPN because while we were cheering Holli Ann was licking everyone’s faces.” 

Despite Holli Ann’s attempt to steal the spotlight, Suzanne was the star of the show, winning 10 total medals including three gold medals in swimming (50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle and 50-meter backstroke) and four silver medals in track (200-meter sprint, 400-meter sprint, 800-meter race and 1500-meter race). Suzanne was also named the winner of the “Heart of the Team” Award. 

Another aspect of the Warrior Games that Suzanne enjoyed was getting to know the other athletes. “I enjoyed the opportunities to hang out with the athletes in smaller groups.” It was a positive experience for Suzanne to interact with other Warriors who might have had similar or shared experiences. “It’s people that kind of get it. We are all there for our own reasons. Maybe different reasons but similar. That was probably the best experience.” 

Holli Ann was able to enjoy the social scene, too, as she got to enjoy daily “puppacinos” from the coffee stand. “Holli Ann for sure ate better than I did. She got her treats and her pup cup every single day.” 

The Warrior Games were an experience that Suzanne says she couldn’t have done without having Holli Ann by her side. “I don’t think I could have done it without her. I joked with someone that it is almost like you have this little safety bubble around you. It made me comfortable being around these new people. It was two weeks and some of the things we went to I would have never done by myself. Holli Ann was a trooper.” 

Would Suzanne consider participating in future Warrior Games? “Only if I have Holli Ann with me.” 

https://warriorcanineconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white.svg 0 0 WCC Comms https://warriorcanineconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white.svg WCC Comms2022-09-29 18:22:512022-10-10 15:14:15Suzanne & Holli Ann Take on the 2022 Warrior Games

WCC—Traveling in Style

August 1, 2022/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact /by WCC Comms

Warrior Canine Connection staff members and service dogs in training are traveling in style, thanks to its new transport van, courtesy of a $50,000 grant from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.

While the van was purchased in February of this year, it’s recently been updated with some artwork and is sure to be recognized anywhere it goes. Newly wrapped with graphics, the van is now adorned with WCC’s logo and, of course, features adorable puppies and service dogs.

The much-needed van is used daily to bring WCC’s mission-critical programming and its service dogs in training to training and educational events in the area.

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 benefit from skills development in communication, confidence building, accountability, emotional regulation, and patience to promote an act of service.

“We’re proud to give back to Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) and provide them with this critical service dog transportation vehicle,” said Meghan Vargas, director of development, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. “We cannot wait to see the service dogs riding in style! Supporting hometown heroes is at the forefront of everything we do and we’re proud to partner with WCC to give back to our veteran community!”

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 69 grants totaling more than $1.5 million to public safety organizations across the country that need critical lifesaving equipment and resources.

We would love to say an additional thank you to Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation for making it all possible!

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Canines and Autonomous Vehicles Know: It Pays to Behave!

July 22, 2022/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact, Warrior Stories /by WCC Comms

What do developing autonomous vehicles and training service dogs have in common? More than you might think! Before we dive into this unlikely comparison, let’s provide some context.

Enter John Alsterda, Systems Engineer at Waymo LLC, Ph.D. candidate at Stanford University, U.S. Navy Reservist, and Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) volunteer. John develops autonomous driving technology in his professional capacities, and is Puppy Parent to service dog in training, Nathan.

John’s work at Waymo allowed him to combine both interests, as he and fellow Veterans at the company recently gathered to host a community clean-up day – WCC’s Nathan and other WCC service dogs in training participated. The Veterans at Waymo employee resource group supports and builds community among veterans working at Waymo, including with volunteer opportunities like this one.

“There’s something about how dogs give you their undivided attention and love that is so powerful,” said John. “During my day, so many things pull on my attention and I feel like I’m always multitasking. But Nathan treats me like I’m the only other person in the world—I feel like no other animal or person has that capacity.”

John studied physics at University of Illinois for undergrad, after which he commissioned into the U.S. Navy. He spent four years at the Naval Nuclear Power School, teaching the principles of nuclear power plant operation on submarines and aircraft carriers to Navy sailors. Next, John transitioned to the Navy Reserve to pursue his Ph.D. at Stanford.

It was there he learned about Stanford’s partnership with WCC and got involved in its Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) program for Veterans. Essentially, those involved help train service dogs for their fellow Service Members and Veterans, which fulfills a time-honored military tradition of Warriors helping Warriors. In doing so, the Veteran can also benefit from social and emotional skill development, improved communication, confidence building, reduced isolation, improved emotional regulation, and reduced stress, which many of the Stanford student Veterans greatly benefit from.

From September 2019 through July 2021, John volunteered in a total of 53 MBTR sessions while working on his doctorate. Not only that, he and his wife, Ashley Fabrizio, also helped with puppy sitting needs, followed by becoming Puppy Parents to WCC’s Nathan, who recently graduated to advanced training at WCC’s Healing Quarters in Boyds, Maryland.

Onto comparing autonomously driven vehicles and service dogs: As John can tell you, the fundamentals involve training the dogs to do the things we want them to do through rewards, like attention and treats. They don’t receive rewards for behaviors we don’t want, and they quickly learn to optimize for these incentives.

“That is fundamentally similar to the way autonomous vehicles can be encouraged to do what we want them to,” said John. “We don’t need to give them treats; they’re even easier to please! By defining a mathematical reward function, we can assign points to behaviors we want or don’t want – positive rewards for good things like staying in-lane, and negative rewards (penalties) for things to avoid like lingering too long on a crosswalk. The algorithm solves this math problem over and over again to figure out how to get the most rewards and avoid the most penalties.”

This is where things get complicated … John added, “because we need to describe complex things both to our dogs and our autonomous driver, not just put your paw on the ground or stay between the lane lines. Dogs don’t understand math, but they can be taught some human language and they understand feelings like good, bad, happy, or lonely. Our cars are better at math, but it’s challenging to describe all the things they need to know with hand-tuned rewards. These less tangible things can be encoded with neural networks, which are a mathematical way to describe things like other drivers’ behavior or how to recognize street signs.”

John explains, “Nathan’s learning process may be similar to training a neural network. We can’t describe to him exactly what behaviors we want. We use commands; he kind of speaks our language that way, but we can’t use full sentences to say precisely what it means to heel or sit close to his handler. Rather, we teach Nathan complex tasks slowly and iteratively, adding one component or adjustment at a time until he learns the whole sequence. I feel like there’s a real similarity there, for things that are impossible to explicitly communicate to both Nathan and a car.”

Simply put, for service dogs and autonomous drivers, it pays to make the right decisions! We get more of the behaviors we reward with both cars and dogs. It’s pretty remarkable to realize how certain aspects of learning theory are not only similar across species, but even in the development of artificial intelligence. That said, an autonomous driver is never going to be as good at snuggling as your dog.

https://warriorcanineconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white.svg 0 0 WCC Comms https://warriorcanineconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white.svg WCC Comms2022-07-22 13:54:362022-07-22 16:01:42Canines and Autonomous Vehicles Know: It Pays to Behave!

WCC Report Card: Healthy Eyes & Hearts

June 7, 2022/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact /by WCC Comms

A rainy, damp Saturday in May didn’t keep puppy parents and their service dogs in training away from WCC’s Healing Quarters for its spring Eye & Heart Day. In fact, 89 dogs had their eyes examined, and 17 dogs had heart exams.

Special thanks to ophthalmologist Dr. Nancy Bromberg, VCA Southpaws Veterinary Specialists, and cardiologist Dr. Neal Peckens, Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates (CVCA), who both lent their time and talents to ensure the health, livelihood, and longevity of these service dogs in training who will go on to help many Service Members and Veterans. Partner, Susquehanna Service Dogs (SSD), also brought some of the dogs from its program to be screened.

“Our goal is to have dilated ophthalmologic exams done all dogs in training, breeding dogs and retired breeding dogs annually,” said Molly Morelli, director of Dog Programs, WCC. “Although we do genotype testing on all our breeding dogs, there are other eye issues that can show up at any time during a dog’s lifetime.”

The number of echocardiograms was much lower, as they are performed on only those dogs that are considered breeder potentials. A disease called Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia does not often cause a murmur, and the only way to screen for this is via an echo done by a board-certified cardiologist.

Offered twice a year, the next WCC Eye & Heart Day is scheduled for November 12.

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