Q&A with explore.org

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.

2021 Virtual Graduation

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.

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

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!

In Memory of Dee Greenly

“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.”

The Art of Dog Training

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.” 

Donate Your Birthday to WCC on Facebook

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

Colonel Ken Nance to be Inducted into the U.S. Army OCS Hall of Fame

This May, the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School will honor 29 new members into its Hall of Fame. Colonel Ken Nance is among the list of those who will be inducted for this prestigious honor.

Annual inductions are based on accomplishments that include superior valorous combat leadership, superior meritorious service, as well as public- and life-long service to their community and nation. National notable members included in the OCS Hall of Fame are Bob Dole, former Senator from Kansas and presidential candidate; Winthrop Rockefeller, politician; Casper Weinberger, Secretary of Defense; General Tommy Franks, Central Command Commander; and Major Dick Winters from “Band of Brothers”.

Ken grew up in Tippah County, Mississippi, graduated from Falkner High School, then studied at both Mississippi State University and Western Illinois University. He went on to serve in both the Reserve and Active Components with almost 29 years of combined service, including five enlisted as a tank crewman and 24 as a commissioned Engineer Officer. Within that career, he had five combat deployments with almost four cumulative years in combat theaters.

Colonel Nance’s most recent military service with the Transatlantic Division (TAD), headquartered in Winchester, Virginia, with USACE theater engineering responsibility for the Central Command Area of Responsibility, from 2016–2019. The positions served were Deputy Commander (Forward), Transatlantic Afghanistan District – Deputy Commander and TAD -Deputy Chief of Staff (G3).

“It’s an incredible honor and a culmination of this career that has helped shape me into who I am today,” said Ken Nance. “I didn’t want to retire, I honestly fought as hard as I could to stay in but due to my injury, I simply couldn’t perform any longer, so I retired five years early.”

During his most recent deployment to Afghanistan in 2017, Ken’s heart stopped causing him to lose consciousness. He fell a distance, broke his jaw, sustained a traumatic brain injury, and lost most of the use of his left foot. He spent more than eight months at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center undergoing four facial reconstruction surgeries, implanted prosthetic jaw and facial bones, lower leg nerve surgery, and receiving an implanted cardiac defibrillator (ICD). Ken then spent three months at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) trying to retrain his brain and body.

While at NICoE, the idea of a service dog was presented to him. Ken says it was an idea he had not even considered. “At that time, I was focused on full recovery and really did not even explore the idea. Little did I know at the time, what a valuable source of recovery a service dog could provide.”

Ken was later transferred to Fort Benning to continue therapy and medically retired from the Army in September 2019.

“I am still going through recovery,” said Ken. “It’s tough going from functioning at a senior level in the military accustomed to a high operational tempo to being dependent on my wife and my family in what seemed like the blink of an eye. It has been a difficult road; however, I am thankful for life. I know everyone’s life journey has difficulties, so it’s not to say mine is any more challenging.”

Ken’s name may be familiar to those in Warrior Canine Connection’s circle, as Ken has WCC’s Sully, a service dog who serves as a vital part of his continued recovery. The duo was paired in July 2020 and has been inseparable since.

“Sully makes a huge, huge difference,” said Ken. “He is with me all the time. I need stabilization assistance quite a bit, and of course, he’s a pretty big dog, so that’s one of his strong suits. Sully very quickly learned my routines, so he knows both my normal routine and my mannerisms. He senses if I’m even needing assistance and before I even make the command, ‘brace’ he’s in position ready to brace; it’s like he’s reading my mind.”

Sully has made himself quite comfortable at the Nance household and has brought a lot of joy to Ken and his family’s lives. Their home is on 20 acres outside Olive Branch, Miss., so Sully gets plenty of time to romp in the yard and the pond.

Even though time has passed, Ken says retired military life is still an ongoing adjustment. He recalls fondly the teamwork, mission focus, and ultimately serving this nation in a capacity that is bigger than oneself.

“It’s almost comical, the first three years of my enlistment, I was determined I would get out at the end of my initial term,” said Ken. “Ironically, twenty-nine years later, I was pushing with determination to stay in!”

It was the Army that provided the structure, education and challenges that Ken craved—and it’s where he excelled.

“The Army assisted me with completing both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees,” said Ken. “It gave me leadership opportunities and surrounded me with the best of the best from American society— those willing to serve our great nation.”

Despite his detoured career and daily challenges, Ken is thankful for all the Army gave him, and he’s honored for his upcoming OCS Hall of Fame induction.

This year’s induction ceremony will take place at Fort Benning on May 17.

Please join us in congratulating Ken on this tremendous honor!

Fate, Freedom and the Future: Veteran Service Dog Team Ryan & Tommy II

When Ryan Boyles was first paired with Warrior Canine Connection service dog Tommy II and saw that they shared the same birthdate—April 30—he says he felt like their new partnership was fate. 

“I felt like it was meant to be, and then they brought him in, and I fell in love with him immediately,” said Ryan. 

The duo graduated as part of WCC’s class of 2019, and since that time, the two have been inseparable.  

“Tommy has given me my freedom back to go and do stuff outside of my home and with my family,” said Ryan. “I really struggle with crowds and feeling trapped, and Tommy really helps me out with that. Thanks to him, I’ve been able to travel with my wife and boys and I feel more comfortable in many different situations. I used to not be a pleasant person to be around. He helps to calm me and bring balance to my life. My wife has told me she noticed an immediate difference in my temperament once I got Tommy.” 

Ryan enlisted in the Air Force in 2006 out of a passion to serve and tradition: both of his grandfathers served in World War II, his uncle was also in the service, and Ryan says he felt a strong pull to serve as a result of 9/11.  

Ryan served in the Air Force for nine years working in multiple roles, including support of combat search and rescue and contingency response missions, before being honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant (E5) in 2015.  

During his service, he completed multiple deployments, including stations in Djibouti and Uganda, Africa. It was during those missions when Ryan was serving as a paying agent that he was put into situations that forever changed him. As a result of his service, Ryan sustained various knee, hip and back injuries, and he also suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. 

“I used to have really bad nightmares to the point where I would wake up yelling, screaming and punching,” said Ryan. “As soon as I got Tommy—literally the day I got him—my nightmares subsided. I rarely ever get them now. He doesn’t have to be in our bed. His presence in our room next to our bed just helps me sleep.”   

Tommy hasn’t just helped with Ryan’s peace of mind, he’s brought so much joy to his family, especially his sons, Lincoln, 11, and Greyson, 8. 

“When the vest comes off, Tommy’s their best bud; the boys enjoy playing with his toys and taking him for walks. It took a little while for them to understand he was my service animal. They understand it and respect it, but they definitely enjoy their playtime with him.” 

Perhaps most importantly, Tommy has also instilled Ryan’s hope for the future; he is able to continue traveling with his family and feeling the sense of freedom that Tommy affords him.  He’s also looking forward to many more joint birthday celebrations with Tommy.  

You can follow Ryan and Tommy’s adventures on Instagram here.  

We Honor Our Volunteers

April is National Volunteer Month. We at Warrior Canine Connection are grateful to all the volunteers who support our organization. Your generosity allows our Veterans to heal, our programs to thrive, and has created a strong community.

“Volunteers are the backbone of our organization,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “We simply couldn’t do all that we do without the support of our extraordinary volunteers. They are helping to change lives for the better.”

Somehow, despite restrictions due to COVID-19 and operating at 60% of volunteer capacity from one year earlier, our amazing volunteers posted a record number of 78,707 service hours in 2020, valued at $2,140,830 ($27.20/hour) in cost savings to WCC.

Also, remarkably, 50% of WCC’s 2020 volunteers were comprised of Military Family Members and Veterans—reinforcing the adage of ‘Veterans helping Veterans.’

Why are WCC volunteers so engaged? Each volunteer has their own reason.  

“From the first time I saw Holly’s Half Dozen on the explore web cam and tuned-in to the live chats about the organization, I connected to the WCC mission of using the healing power of dogs to help veterans who were struggling.  Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to see the difference one dog can have in the life of a veteran and his/her family. My life path did not include military service but volunteering with WCC has now given me the opportunity to support our nation’s veterans.  The unexpected part of volunteering with WCC are the many connections and dear friendships I’ve made with other volunteers and supporters all across the country.” 
Terrie Bates, WCC Volunteer since 2013 

“I learn so much from the animals and the trainers and love the mission!” 
Amy Griffith, WCC Volunteer since 2020 

“I love the feeling of community at WCC. We are there for each other, you are never alone when raising a future service puppy. We all support each other when we are feeling stuck or disheartened when maybe our puppy isn’t as far along in training as others. We remind each other our puppies have their own path and it’s not about keeping up with each other it’s about taking it at your puppy’s pace. We also support each other during the transition from when our puppies go to their path whether that be a family support dog, advanced training and working service dog. Our hearts ante poured into these fur love bugs and we know the day will come to transition from our heart to another but it’s never easy even though it’s beautiful.”  
Ashley Poindexter-Tarmy, WCC Volunteer since 2019  

“I have always volunteered for some organization in every phase of my life but WCC is by far the most rewarding volunteer job I’ve ever had. My father and brother are both disabled Veterans and I couldn’t be more honored to be able to give back to our veterans in such a healing and holistic way.” 
Michele Burkhammer, WCC Volunteer since 2019 

“Volunteering at WCC allows me to connect to the military community.  While I work with dogs, I feel great satisfaction knowing that I am helping veterans and their families caring for the dogs that will one day serve them. I believe in WCC’s mission and feel good in knowing that the dogs we raise will help those in need.”   
Nancy Deprey, WCC Volunteer since 2020

“WCC gives me a purpose and working with all Veterans allows me to give back to my brothers and sisters in arms who have given so much. Being able to watch the changes take place and the Veterans opening up. To see them laugh and smile and make eye contact. It is everything and worth the 2.5 hours I spend in a car to watch this miracle happen.”
Robin Martin, WCC Volunteer since 2012 

“We want to give back to Veterans and their families. It is a huge honor to be a WCC volunteer and share the mission with everyone
we can.”    
Bill and Tammy Crozier, WCC Volunteer since 2019 

“Volunteering for WCC combined love of dogs with a mission I support; I am a part of something bigger than me, and my support continues WCC’s mission.”
Kimberly Harrington, WCC Volunteer since 2016 

Thank you to all of you, our amazing volunteers, who give your time and talents to WCC; we are very appreciative of all you do.

We will be featuring several of our amazing volunteers with their thoughts on why they choose to help WCC on our Facebook page, so keep an eye out for them!

Interested in volunteering for WCC? You can check out our current opportunities here. 

Veterans Get Surprise Funding

Thanks to modern technology, two WCC Veteran Service Dog Teams received a great surprise during what they thought was simply a virtual discussion with colleagues from a partner program.  

It all took place, thanks to the American Warrior Initiative (AWI). A nonprofit dedicated https://operationwarriorshield.com to supporting military families and Veterans, AWI was established by Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. based in Ellicott City, Maryland. This year, AWI generously donated $30,000 in grant funding to WCC in support of its service dog placement program. That’s in addition to a generous $20,000 grant they gave WCC last year.  

So where does the surprise come into play? During the video call, AWI surprised two of WCC’s Veteran Service Dog Team recipients with a $5,000 family grant each. The family grants were created to help with any needs either Veteran might have—from dog care expenses to home repairs. And as you might imagine, the reactions were priceless. 

“Thank you so much, this means the world to me,” said Brent McKeag, who has WCC service dog Tallman. “I would like to say thank you so much to AWI and Fairway not only for what you’re doing but also to Warrior Canine Connection for pairing me with my beautiful wonderful dog, Tallman.” 

Brent, an Army Specialist E-4 who lives in Stafford, Virginia, went on to share just how much Tallman has changed his life, as well as his son’s. 

“He’s not just helping me, it’s been amazing to see how he reacts when my son has an epileptic seizure,” said Brent. “Tallman wasn’t taught to do it, but he won’t leave his side and gets my attention to let me know. I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”  

WCC Veteran Service Dog Team Cornelius Twohig and service dog Dana also received one of the $5,000 grants. 

“I’m actually speechless, which doesn’t happen to me very often,” said Cornelius. “Thank you so much for your generosity, it’s mind-boggling. This takes my breath away; I can’t voice my appreciation enough. And thank you to WCC; getting this dog and working with a dog sort of allows me to look at a future I didn’t see before.” 

Exactly the intention of AWI’s generous grant funds. 

“We are so honored to have such amazing partners in the American Warrior Initiative,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “AWI talks the talk and walks the walk; they are 100% dedicated to helping our country’s Veterans and their families. This grant funding is really appreciated, and even more so, is the personalized touch and impact they have on each of the Veterans and their family members they support.” 

Louise Thaxton, director and co-founder of AWI, hosted the call and shared the surprise. “Weezie,” as her friends call her, shared her personal mantra, “None of us can do everything, but all of us can do one thing.”  

And that’s exactly what AWI is doing—one Veteran at a time. 

Contact Us

14934 Schaeffer Road
Boyds, MD 20841

(T) 301.260.1111
info@warriorcanineconnection.org


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