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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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Leaving a Legacy

December 6, 2021/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact /by WCC Comms

A former international model, world traveler, government employee, and more, Kay, 84, has packed eight-plus decades of adventure, relationships, and lessons in her life’s journey.

With an infectious sense of humor, Kay jokingly muses over her new adventures — adapting to macular degeneration and hearing issues. But in the next breath, her tone turns grateful for Cindy, her sister, who has been helping her adapt to her new life changes.

Kay says a lot of people don’t like to talk about it, but age has given her comfort with her own mortality. It’s also given her cause to think about what she wants to leave behind when she’s no longer around. That’s why she elected to leave a portion of her estate to Warrior Canine Connection in her will.

“I was made aware of Warrior Canine Connection by my nephew who is a retired Marine,” said Kay. “He talked to me about it because I’m at a stage of my life where I need to make those plans. I’m grateful to leave something behind and to leave the money with those who I think are going to spend it well and do good with it, and I’m tickled to death to support this organization in particular.”

Military service has strong roots in Kay’s family. She was married to Clark, who has since passed, but spent his career as an engineer in the Marine Corps. Her nephew (Cindy’s son) was an explosive ordnance disposal tech in the Marines. And her oldest great nephew is currently attending The U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

“It’s a population that has not been served as well as they should have been,” said Kay. “We are a fairly small family, and we have ties to and history and support of military service, so we’ve always felt strongly about the military and helping others. I’m from a small town, and we have small-town values, which usually involves helping out other people … we like to look out, rather than look in.”

On her many visits, Cindy totes along her laptop so she and Kay can enjoy watching the WCC live puppy cam on Explore.org together — a simple pleasure that brings both comfort and joy.

“We’ve had the puppy cam on all day … we’re watching the little dickens that became king of the hill, started an uproar with the others, and then they all went to sleep,” says Kay chuckling.

Kay says she’s lived a happy, interesting life, and she’s pleased to not only chat and share stories but to also know a piece of her will be passed along after she’s gone.

“It’s my hope that my story might encourage other people to do the same,” said Kay. “It’s wonderful to see the money go to where it will do good.”

Discover how easy it is to support Warrior Canine Connection beyond a lifetime. To learn more, visit https://warriorcanineconnection.org/get-involved/donate/

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Share your Favorite WCC Memory!

October 6, 2021/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact /by WCC Comms

It’s been 10 years (10 YEARS!) since WCC was formed. In that time, more than 5,300 Warriors have benefited from its Mission Based Trauma Recovery training program, and 92 assistance dogs have been placed with Service Members and Veterans to date.

All along the journey, we’ve been privileged to have the support of puppy parents, partners, and volunteers, all who have helped make our mission possible. Over the past decade, countless “connections” have been built and memories made.

Do you have a favorite story, photo or memory to share about your connection to WCC? We’d love to hear about it!

Please help us celebrate our 10-year anniversary by sharing your favorite memory with us. Simply drop us a line here and tell us about it.

Thank you for participating! We are excited to continue making memories with you over the next 10 years and beyond!

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Happy Tails of WCC Release Dogs

October 6, 2021/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact /by WCC Comms

Eighteen service dogs from Warrior Canine Connection were placed with Veterans as part of its 2021 graduating class—its largest class to date. It’s an impressive number. But what may be even more impressive is WCC’s commitment to ensuring its dogs are best suited for their roles. 

What many don’t readily see at graduation are the dogs who go on to serve Veterans and their families in a different role. We often refer to them as “career-change” or “release” dogs. Words such as “flunky” or “failure” simply are not part of WCC’s vocabulary. 

There often comes a point with each service dog-in-training when the question is asked, has this puppy reached his/her fullest potential (for the type of work we’re raising them for)? Sometimes that question comes up sooner than later. WCC trainers and puppy parents do their best to prepare these pups for future work as a service dog, but the day will come when it’s up to the dog to carry forward. And the truth is—not all will—and that’s okay.

“WCC takes a lot of pride in serving our Veterans but also ensuring the dogs are happy,” says Krista Vega, WCC puppy parent. “It really is about the overall health and well-being of the dogs, and I love that approach to it.” 

Krista Vega had fostered dogs for other organizations in the past and got involved with WCC as a puppy parent in 2020. A total dog lover who has had Labs as pets in the past, she was excited about becoming a puppy parent.  

She said one of the first lessons as a puppy parent was that there was no guarantee the dog she would help raise would become a service dog. Sure enough, six months into her puppy parent responsibilities, Subin, her dog, was career-changed. Krista says she had to remind herself that it was nothing she did, rather Subin had chosen another route—still helping a Veteran and his family, but in a different way—as a pet. (Photo of both to the right.)

“I just loved the care that was taken when he was career changed, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that for future dogs,” said Krista. “They [the WCC trainers] take special care to make sure the dogs are a match for the program—the decks are not stacked. Now, I get to see how happy Subin is with his military family. He has little humans in the house and playmates, and he’s just so happy. He provides companionship and love to his family, and it’s a joy to watch him thrive.”  

Kevin Simpson, director of service dog training programs for WCC, says the nonprofit raises each dog with the future goal of being a service dog, but ultimately, the dogs choose their own careers. 

“We aren’t raising robots here,” said Simpson. “All of these dogs have their own strengths, challenges, and personalities, which are all an integral part of their training and matching process. Some dogs may be released for a medical issue, others might be reactive, and still others might be better suited as a working detection dog, and for many—it’s being a pet—living out their days with the Veteran families. In the end, the dogs are happy and they bring joy to those they’re placed with. We like to say they’ve been ‘honorably discharged.’” 

Simpson added, “We place high standards on the dogs we match as public-access service dogs. While some really enjoy working for and serving their Veteran, others are simply not meant for that role. It may be that they need more time adjusting to new environments and have trouble focusing on the needs of their handler. Some may simply have too low initiative or find themselves needing more support than they’re able to give. Other times it can be a health-related reason the dog is not meant for service work.” 

Diane Cadenhead has had a hand in helping to raise seven WCC assistance dogs. WCC’s Charlie, one of the first dogs she was a puppy parent for, now provides tremendous support as a service dog for a Veteran and his family. It was the same story for WCC dog Judy. Both are public access dogs serving their Veterans. But not every dog she has parented has become a public access service dog. Diane has raised five career change dogs, one for medical reasons, the others by the puppy’s decision to better serve their veteran in a different capacity than a public access service dog.

“I work with WCC to interview puppy parents, and I can tell you that a career change is still a success,” said Diane. “We have a lot of Veterans. Not all have special needs or a disability, but all can benefit from these amazing dogs. Sometimes they go to a Veteran who might have a child who has a need who can benefit from a dog of this caliber. A career change is never a failure … every effort is made to ensure the dog goes on to serve a Veteran—just in a different capacity.”  

Wendy Notari, a WCC service dog training instructor and a three-time puppy parent, has raised two dogs who have been released, and currently has a third pup.  

“Every dog I know who has been released is living their best life,” said Wendy. “And that’s thanks to the puppy parents who have helped raise them. They put in the same amount of time, love, and dedication as those who raise pups who become service dogs. WCC truly sees each dog as an individual and strives to find the placement that best captures their personality, aptitudes, and connection to their new person or family—whether they’re placed as a service dog or a loving pet. You can’t ask for anything better than that.” 

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Warrior Canine Connection Holding 2021 Virtual Graduation Ceremony September 25

August 2, 2021/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact, Uncategorized /by WCC Comms

Class of 2021 expected to be WCC’s largest to-date

Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 25 to join Warrior Canine Connection in congratulating its 2021 class of Veteran Service Dog Teams! The virtual ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. Eastern Time and can be viewed on WCC’s Facebook page. 

The ninth annual graduation will feature WCC’s largest graduating class to date, with more than a dozen Veterans and dogs included in the announcement ceremony. The celebration will include powerful Veterans stories, adorable dog footage, awards, special acknowledgments, and more! 

“Honoring graduates through our commencement ceremony is one of WCC’s most important traditions,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “Even though they won’t physically be walking across the stage that day, we are privileged to share their stories and achievements with their families, friends, and colleagues, as well as WCC’s dedicated volunteers, supporters and extended pack thanks to modern-day technology.”  

Following the virtual graduation, WCC will host an in-person, post-graduation celebration at its Healing Quarters in Boyds, Maryland—set to begin at 12:30 p.m. E.T. 

Stay tuned to WCC’s social channels for additional information! 

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Q&A with explore.org

August 2, 2021/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact /by WCC Comms

Warrior Canine Connection recently caught up with Courtney Huq, social media director for explore.org, the host site of WCC’s live puppy cam. We chatted with her about the partnership between the two nonprofits, how the puppy cam came to be, as well as some other fun tidbits.

explore.org’s mission is to bring people closer to nature and to champion the selfless acts of others. The platform currently boasts 166 live webcams and growing, seen across four continents (North America, Africa, Asia and Europe), along with 10+ million Facebook followers.

Below are some highlights from our conversation.

1. explore.org has been a great champion for WCC. Can you share a bit of the history of the organization’s support of Veterans?

Answer: Our founder, Charlie Annenberg, he’s always been a champion of Veteran-related causes dating back to when he was making documentaries tied to philanthropic initiatives. He also has a love of dogs and it all tied together. He thought training service dogs for Veterans was a beautiful and brilliant idea, and the idea was born.

2. When and why were WCC’s puppies added to explore.org? And how has it enriched your platform?

Answer: We first got connected with WCC through Rick Yount (WCC’s founder and executive director). At the time, Rick and Meg Olmert (WCC’s director of research) approached us and told us about WCC. The more we learned, the more we thought it was an amazing pairing of war Veterans who might be dealing with mental issues related to their military service with their pairing to service dogs. We got connected in 2011 and came online in 2012. WCC was the first puppy cam on explore.org.

There are currently six total puppy cams and three or four on and off with active litters on our platform.

3. We know puppies and all dogs, in general, are fantastic. But in your own words, what makes puppies so special and such a huge attraction on the puppy cam?

Answer: Aside from the fact that everybody loves a puppy—unless you’re a monster [laughs], you just automatically see them and go “aww.” I agreed with the first pitch Meg Olmert ever gave us—it’s an automatic chemical serotonin response, and I think that’s true of all the cameras we have; there’s just something about puppies that just comforts people and offers them a little bit of therapy.


4. Did you anticipate the reach the WCC puppy cam has had?

Answer: When we launched the puppy cam, we didn’t realize the reach. It was probably one of the more popular cameras immediately when we first started incorporating it, and it just grew from there and we continue to add cameras of organizations that we believe in.

 

5. What’s the coolest/most touching story you’ve heard from someone who watched the explore.org/WCC puppy cam?

Answer: There have been A LOT over the years. The most touching stories to me are when people approach us and say either ‘I have a terminal illness’ or ‘my close relative has a terminal illness and these puppy cameras are the only brightness of my day-to-day.’ That’s powerful. The joy the puppies bring is so meaningful … there’s been more than one situation; it’s not a one-off, it happens a lot.

6. What would you like people to know about explore.org that they may not already know from watching the live streams?

Answer: I’d like to think a lot of people know but we sort of tuck this in the background—that there is a philanthropic element to every single camera. We don’t just partner with organizations because we want to show a cute animal or a pretty landscape. There’s a reason behind everything. We want to make sure WCC and other organizations have funding to do their work; we have them on the website because we believe in their missions.

7. In your opinion, has there been a “favorite” litter to date or one that has stood out to you over others?

Answer: Definitely, I want to say the launch litters were the most popular, like Holly’s Half Dozen. Holly was an immensely popular dog and her puppies were such a big deal. They sort of looped everyone into this addiction of watching the joy and sharing the joy of watching puppies whenever you wanted to.

I was sorry to hear of Holly’s recent passing; her legacy left an impact on a lot of people, including the puppies of hers who were placed as service dogs.

8. Have you followed the progress/development of any of the puppies who’ve made appearances on the puppy cam?

Answer: A lot of them have Facebook pages, and I do like a lot of those pages. We run Dog Bless You, so we share stories there and enjoy seeing what the dogs are doing.

9. Is there anything we didn’t ask that you would like to share?

Answer: Only that we really value our partnership with WCC, and it’s been really inspiring over the years watching them grow as an organization. And it is well-deserved progress that they’ve made.

You can watch the WCC live puppy cam on explore.org here.

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2021 Virtual Graduation

July 8, 2021/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact /by WCC Comms

Mark Your Calendar Now for Warrior Canine Connection’s Graduation Celebration on Saturday, September 25, 2021!

WCC happily invites current and past graduates, their parents, caregivers, family, and everyone who wants to rally behind this larger-than-ever graduating class, to join us for an inspiring online celebration.

For those who wish to continue the celebration from online to in-person, WCC will also host a post-graduation ceremony reception later that day. Please refer to your local, State of Maryland, and Montgomery County guidelines as they relate to vaccinations, travel, and any restrictions before booking and planning your trip.

The Virtual Graduation Ceremony starts online, Saturday, Sept. 25th at 11 a.m. Eastern Time. The Post-Graduation Reception will follow at the WCC Healing Quarters in Boyds, Maryland, on Saturday, Sept. 25th at 12:30 p.m., Eastern Time.

Click here for a digital version of our Graduation Program to follow along during our live event.

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Partner Spotlight: The Patriot Fund—Providing Veterans with the Best Support Possible

June 3, 2021/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact, Uncategorized /by WCC Comms

The Patriot Fund has been helping to make a difference in the lives of our heroic Veterans since 2016. The nonprofit is on a mission to create a world where Veterans can return from duty proactively supported mentally, emotionally, socially and financially as they and their families re-engage into civilian life.

The Patriot Fund is all about connecting Veterans and Military Families to Patriots who can help. This year, WCC is delighted to have the Fund as a new partner in helping us train and place service dogs with Veterans in need. The Fund presented Warrior Canine Connection with a $30,000 gift in February of this year.

“We are honored and thankful to have the support of The Patriot Fund, an organization that is wholeheartedly committed to helping our nation’s Veterans and their families,” said Rick Yount, executive director and founder, Warrior Canine Connection. “This gift is not only a magnificent gesture of support for our programs, it’s also a testament to all this amazing organization is doing in support of our Service Members, Veterans, and their families.”

The Patriot Fund cites research on new Veterans, which found that nearly two-thirds said they faced a difficult transition to civilian life in one way or another. That’s one reason the nonprofit turned its support WCC, to help expand its available Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training program for Veterans who can benefit from it. The unique program enlists Service Members and Veterans to train service dogs for their fellow Warriors. In doing so, the Veteran can also benefit from skills development in communication, confidence building, accountability, emotional regulation, and patience to promote an act of service while receiving a therapeutic benefit. Each dog can impact up to 60 Veterans during the training process.

“Thanks to Warrior Canine Connection, our American Heroes who made it possible for us to enjoy the comforts of home are connected with the dogs who are now Heroes keeping our Military Veterans safe at home,” said Major General (Ret) Steven Hashem, co-founder & vice president on The Patriot Fund’s Executive Committee. “The Patriot Fund shares the same commitment as WCC to do the right thing for the right reasons for our Veterans.”

The Patriot Fund will host the 2021 Patriot Invitational, its annual golf event and biggest fundraiser of the year to raise money for other deserving nonprofits serving Veterans, this October.

Please join us in thanking The Patriot Fund for its support of WCC!

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In Memory of Dee Greenly

June 2, 2021/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact /by WCC Comms

“Every once in a while, a dog enters your life and changes everything.”
– Anonymous

Kathryn Greenly says that quote is particularly true for her husband, Dee Greenly, who passed away in December 2020. On June 14, Kathryn, along with family members and friends, will celebrate Dee’s life. And there will be a lot to celebrate—as Dee lived a very purposeful and inspiring 86 years.

Dee’s eight-plus decades on earth are marked by significant accomplishments, milestones, and his passions. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1950-1954, where he was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Rochester. He also spent 31 years working at NASA, where he served in several capacities tied to safety, reliability, and quality. He shared almost three decades of marriage with his wife, Kathryn; April would have marked their 30th wedding anniversary. He was also a father to two children, Jeffrey Dee, and Lisa Anne, from his previous marriage. And he was devoted to his faith; he spent several years doing mission work.

As Kathryn will tell you, another one of his great passions was Abraham or “Abe”—the dog that came into his life and changed everything.

“Dee had a purpose for living after he got Abe,” says Kathryn. “I was working, and Dee was retired, and he was kind of lonely. Getting Abe gave him a new purpose. He would walk with him, care for him and it gave him a desire to stay active and keep physically fit.”

Abe was from the Golden Rule Assistance Dogs Program, which Rick Yount, executive director and founder of Warrior Canine Connection, started and ran back in Morgantown, West Virginia many years ago—prior to starting WCC.

Abe was a puppy from a litter that Rick’s dog and muse, Gabe, sired—the sole male in the litter of seven. Dee was the first Veteran that Rick matched with a service dog based on the chemistry he saw between Dee and Abe.

Rick says Dee inspired him and the teens who helped to train Abe at the Alternative Learning Center (ALC), as Dee devoted his time to form connections with all Abe’s teen trainers. Rick also added that Dee’s gratitude to the kids in the ALC helped many of them to see themselves differently, realizing the positive impact that they were making in their community.

After Abe and Dee “graduated” from boot camp in 2004, Abe was Dee’s faithful helper and companion for more than 12 years.

“Abe was a gentleman … he was calm, he was just such a loving dog … so many people knew Abe but didn’t even know us—he was just that kind of dog,” said Kathryn.

In fact, he was so special of a dog, that Dee told Kathryn he wanted to be buried with his special dog’s remains. On June 14, Dee and Abe will be interred at the Grafton National Veterans Memorial cemetery together.

Rick, who will attend the ceremony in Grafton, the small W.Va. town where Gabe was born, shared, “It will be an honor to be a part of Dee’s celebration of life and reflect on his influence on my life’s path. I was blessed to witness Dee’s and Abe’s Warrior Canine “connection” from the beginning and now when they will rest together at the Grafton National Veterans Memorial Cemetery. I would love to name a future WCC puppy, “Dee,” to honor Dee Greenly and his service to all of us.”

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The Art of Dog Training

May 12, 2021/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact, Warrior Stories /by WCC Comms

Since he was a kid, Nick has always loved art—painting, drawing, and he even did some professional tattoo work for a period. He loves finding beauty in unexpected places. And dog training is one of them.

In fact, Nick, a Marine Corps Veteran, just hit a huge milestone—he’s completed 250 Mission Based Trauma Recovery hours! Nick has been participating in Warrior Canine Connection’s service dog training program at its Asheville, N.C. location since March 2020. 

“It’s one of the best therapeutic methods I’ve ever encountered, and I’ve tried a lot of different things,” said Nick. “I’ve tried horticulture, sitting with therapists and psychiatrists, which I still do, but I really prefer going to see the dogs.” 

Nick enlisted in the Marine Corps and went to boot camp at age 17. Originally, he wanted to be an aircraft mechanic but soon found out he was color blind. He was drawn to journalism and photography and ended up attending the Defense Information School. 

“I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world,” says Nick. “I got to see parts of every other job, covered amazing stories, saw a lot of interesting things, and learned a lot from a lot of people through the Marine Corps. I also really valued the camaraderie.” 

Three and a half years into his service, his diagnosis restricted him from being able to re-enlist and he sought treatment.

“I don’t know what I’d do without the VA, honestly,” said Nick. “They help me with medication and really everything … they’ve been a huge help to me.” 

It was through the VA’s programs that Nick learned about WCC’s service dog training program. Once he got started, he was hooked.

“I set a goal to complete 100 sessions, then 150, and then 200,” said Nick. “Truth is, I don’t see myself stopping, I enjoy the sessions so much, and it’s helped me immensely with my anxiety and with learning about myself. I have also learned a lot about how to talk to the dogs, handle them, and training in general. Both you and the dog benefit so much when you know how to communicate with each other.” 

Nick balances the training sessions with his schoolwork; he’s studying business management at Asheville-Buncombe Community College, where he says he hopes to learn to one day combine his business skills with his passion for art.  

Amy Guidash, who runs WCC’s program in Asheville, says “Nick has come a long way since he started the program. He’s been so committed to it, that not only has he learned a lot about training and formed amazing relationships with the dogs, he’s also become a great resource and help to his fellow Veterans who are new to the program.” 

“When I first started, I was uncomfortable and wanted to stop,” said Nick. “My advice to others is to dip your toe in the pool … get outside of your comfort zone a bit, keep fighting to stay and it will get more comfortable. Talk to people, make friends, and bond with people in the program who have close to or some of the same experiences as you, so you are never alone.” 

Nick, who works a lot with WCC’s service dog in training, Danny, says he hopes to one day get his own service dog.  

“Dogs are powerful—knowing you have something living and breathing next to you, it’s true companionship,” said Nick. “They don’t judge you for anything at all. And they just have playful and compassionate souls … they look to you to help with a lot of things, too.” 

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Donate Your Birthday to WCC on Facebook

May 3, 2021/0 Comments/in Stories of Impact /by WCC Comms

Each May when my birthday rolls around, I quote Mickey Mantle by saying, “If I knew I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself.” It can be a little stressful thinking about all the years that have flown by, but of course, it does beat the alternative. This year I found a wonderful way to make my birthday even more meaningful. I learned to make this a life-changing birthday by donating my special day to help wounded Veterans.

Some of WCC’s amazing supporters have already discovered that Facebook allows you to dedicate your special day by creating a birthday fundraiser. I couldn’t believe how easy it was! In five simple steps (and less than five minutes), I filled in my information, chose WCC as the beneficiary, set a goal, picked a photo, and posted my fundraiser.

While I would be honored and humbled to have you support my birthday fundraiser, more importantly—I’m asking that you, too, consider making a commitment each and every year to dedicate your birthday to honoring the sacrifice of our nation’s Veterans. Just think of the impact we could all make together if every WCC Facebook follower had a life-changing birthday! You can find instructions on how to set up your Facebook birthday fundraiser to support Veterans through WCC’s service dog training programs on the WCC Facebook page here.

Thanks for making my day extra special and for your support of WCC’s critically important work.

May the 4th be with you and all of us!

Rick Yount
Executive Director & Founder
Warrior Canine Connection

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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)
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# 45-2981579

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