Ravens and Tito’s Are Back for a Paw-some 2024 Season!

Warrior Canine Connection is thrilled to announce that Tito’s Handmade Vodka and the Baltimore Ravens are teaming up again to make every catch count—literally! For the second year in a row, Tito’s and the Ravens are pledging $100 to WCC for every reception during the 2024 NFL regular season, with a goal of raising $35,000!  

That’s right, football fans and dog lovers, get ready to cheer extra hard because every time the Ravens complete a pass, you’re helping provide life-changing service dogs to Veterans. This partnership showcases the *ultimate* teamwork—both on the field and in the lives of those who have served our country.  

So, grab your purple gear, rally the pack and root for every reception. Every catch brings us one step closer to our fundraising goal, ensuring that Warrior Canine Connection can continue its mission of providing service dogs to those who’ve served our great country. 

 

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New Faces at WCC: Sarah Peltzer

Warrior Canine Connection would like to welcome Sarah Peltzer to our pack! Sarah joined us on as a Breeding Assistant in July. Born and raised in Frederick, Md., Sarah has always been surrounded by animals and developed a deep connection with them early on. Her passion for animals led her to actively participate in 4-H and FFA, where she bred and showed dairy goats. Sarah continued to pursue her love for animals by earning a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Maryland, College Park earlier this year.

During her time at UMD, Sarah worked at the Maryland State Fair Birthing Center, where she educated the public on animal reproduction and birthing processes. Her hands-on experience there, which included assisting in the delivery of piglets, calves and chicks, solidified her interest in reproductive science. When the opportunity arose to join WCC, Sarah knew it was the perfect fit.

“I’ve been loving it—the team is great,” said Sarah. “Being part of getting these dogs into life and seeing how they progress is incredibly rewarding. I can’t wait to see how far they come and how they go on to serve others.”

Sarah has already been hands-on in welcoming new litters, having been involved in the birth of two litters since she started.

Outside of work, Sarah enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time with her long-time feline companion, Tonks. We’re excited to have Sarah on board and look forward to all the wonderful contributions she’ll make to our team!

 

Meet Barney: A Special Addition to WCC and the Washington Commanders

Warrior Canine Connection’s (WCC) Barney isn’t just another adorable pup—he’s a vital part of a transformative program helping Veterans in Frederick. At the Platoon Veteran Services Center (VSC), Barney is actively involved in WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training, which supports Veterans dealing with a range of challenges, including PTSD. Since joining the program two months ago, Barney has logged more than 26 hours of training and quickly won over the hearts of participants.

One U.S. Navy Veteran who participates in the VSC program shared, “Barney is special! He’s not only a beautiful specimen of Labradors but also incredibly intuitive. He learns quickly and has a big personality that’s both entertaining and heartwarming. It’s been an honor to be part of his early training, and he’ll always have a place in my heart.”

In addition to basic obedience and loose leash walking, Barney’s training involves important socialization and behavioral skills. He’s learning alongside other service dogs in training, including WCC’s Pete, who is further along in his training journey. Over the next two years, Barney will continue his preparation, aiming to become a life-changing companion for a Veteran, thanks to the MBTR program’s comprehensive approach.

In June, Barney was named as the official team dog for the Washington Commanders. This unique role allows him to participate in community events and meet fans, further extending the impact of his training. The Washington Commanders Foundation is generously covering Barney’s training expenses, helping him along his path to becoming a service dog.

Barney was named in honor of Colonel Harvey Curtiss “Barney” Barnum Jr., a retired Marine Corps officer and Medal of Honor recipient for his actions during the Vietnam War. A meeting between the two namesakes may be on the horizon, further highlighting the special connection and honor associated with this remarkable dog.

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WCC Paw-tify Playlist: Tail-Wagging Tunes for Dog Lovers

At Warrior Canine Connection, dogs hold a special place in our hearts—and in the world. They’re the stars of countless movies, the subjects of beloved books, and the inspiration behind many iconic songs. We asked our team to share their favorite dog-themed tunes or those tied to a cherished memory with a furry friend. Check out their picks and add some canine-inspired joy to your summer “paw-tify” playlist!

Song Title: Like My Dog by Billy Currington
“This song is about a dog’s unconditional love. It doesn’t matter what you do for work, how ‘lazy’ you are, or what you look like, your dog will always love you.”
– Samantha, development officer, WCC

Song Title: Home by Phillip Phillips
“This song holds a special place for me … It started playing on the car radio the day I brought my adopted dog, Witten, home from the shelter. He ended up in the shelter at around 4 yrs. of age when his owner passed away, and the gentleman’s family turned him over. Witten passed March of last year at 14, and I will always continue to think of him whenever this song plays.”
– Kevin, director of service dog training

Song title: Who Let the Dogs Out by Baha Men
“This song used to make my sisters and me crack up that they were actually barking in the song.”
– Cheyenna, service dog training instructor

Song Title: What I Am by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
“Because religion is a smile on a dog!”
– Rick, founder and executive director

Song Title: Good Ol’ Dogs and God by Pryor & Lee
“The reason I love it is that I’ve always felt the pureness of a dog’s heart and soul is so deep that it feels like there is a link they create between us and what comes next. Also, I always think of when my little boy (now 35), Casey, came running to me one day and was sooooo excited to tell me that Dog was God spelled backward. He thought he was the first on earth to figure that out 😉.  The joy in his face I will always remember.”
– Cheryl, puppy parent program manager

Song Title: This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race by Fall Out Boy
“As a teenager, I had a job walking a neighbor’s dog every afternoon after school. India was the sweetest chocolate labrador and we enjoyed our mile long daily walk, rain or shine, while jamming to this song on my iPod. (Does that age me? LOL)”
– Sarah, Veteran and Military Family Services Manager

Song Title: Black-Eye Dog by Colin James
“Colin James’ cover/rendition of the song is my favorite. It’s kind of like a song about depression … but I feel good about it, like that the dog sees me.”
– Brady, external relations manager

Song Title: Touch of Grey by the Grateful Dead
“I like it because you can’t keep from smiling when you’re singing along to this song in the car with the windows down and a dog in the back.”
– Mar, veteran training program manager

Song Title: The Black Dog by Taylor Swift
“Just an absolute banger! A little heart wrenching but worth the listen!”
– Riley, puppy development assistant

Song Title: Radio/Video by System of a Down
Lyrics:
“They take me away from
The strangest places
Sweet Danny and Lisa”

“This song refers to childhood memories helping take the singer out of the stress and pressure of life. Danny and Lisa are childhood friends that bring the good memories! It is similar to what our service dogs do for Veterans. They bring back those comforting memories during times of stress, though their bond and relationship. To me this is a good summer song, as it is upbeat, and summertime always brings back great memories for me!”
– Ketcher, service dog training instructor

Song Title: 40 Dogs by Bob Schneider
“The tempo and fun energy in this song actually reminds me of my dog’s personality; he’s always smiling with his tongue out and ready for fun. I can’t not be happy around him, kind of like when this song is playing.”
– Beth, media relations officer

Have a favorite song to add to the list? Let us know!

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WCC 2024 Graduation: Veterans and Service Dogs to Celebrate Paw-some Achievements

Warrior Canine Connection happily invites current and past graduates, their families, our amazing volunteers and supporters to join us for WCC’s Class of 2024 virtual ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 21. 
 
For those who wish to continue the celebration from online to in-person, WCC will also host a post-graduation ceremony reception later that afternoon. Our graduating teams and extended pack will enjoy good food, live music, barn tours, WCC store items for sale, a photo booth, fun activities and plenty of dogs! 
 
The virtual graduation ceremony will take place online Saturday, Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. Eastern Time. The post-graduation reception, including a special barn dedication ceremony, will follow at WCC’s Healing Quarters in Boyds, Maryland at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Registration for the reception is required and will open Aug. 21 on the WCC website—stay tuned for the link and more details! This promises to be a fantastic celebration, we hope to see you there! 

New Faces at WCC: Deborah Logan, Service Dog Training Apprentice

We are thrilled to welcome Deborah Logan to the WCC team! Deborah joined us as a Service Dog Training Apprentice in June and will be instrumental in running MBTR sessions and training WCC service dogs. 

Deborah’s journey with WCC began when she met one of the original service dogs, WCC’s Cadence. As a volunteer puppy parent during her college years, she demonstrated her dedication to our mission. Recently, she graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and even helped establish a new WCC training club at UMD. Deborah is passionate about continuing Cadence’s legacy and is eager to start her new role, using her love for dogs to positively impact Veterans’ lives.

“I’ve seen firsthand the impact service dogs can have on a Veteran, as well as their entire family,” said Deborah. “I’m excited to work for an organization I’ve been supporting for years and to learn and grow as a trainer.” 

Outside of work, Deborah enjoys hiking with her black Lab, Oasis, and Sherri, the third WCC service dog in training she’s raising. We’re excited to have her on board and look forward to the great work she will do with WCC! 

New Faces at WCC: Welcoming Molly Elmore and Tessa Williams

Molly Elmore, Volunteer Program Manager

Meet Molly Elmore, our newest addition to the Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) team! Molly joined us in January as Volunteer Program Manager and brings a wealth of passion, organizational skills, and a deep love for dogs to her role, which involves working closely with all WCC’s amazing Puppy Parents, sitters, whelpers and volunteers. Her commitment to WCC’s mission is evident, and we’re thrilled to have her on board.

“I’ve seen the power of dogs in my own life, the bond, and raised my children with them,” said Molly. “There’s something about their companionship, their empathy towards us—it’s powerful, and then to get to work with these dogs that are so well-trained, it’s just remarkable.”

Molly spent the past 23 years, including 15 in Montgomery County, as an educator; she worked with all age groups from pre-school to adults, teaching French and English to Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) and creating unique enrichment courses.

Molly is married to husband, Lee, and they have three daughters, Rachel, 20; Becca, 17; and Kate, 14 and two dogs, Millie, 8, a Golden Retriever; and Seamus, 4, an Aussiedoodle. In addition to her work with animals, she loves meeting new people, traveling, learning languages, cooking, hiking, reading, learning, and is always up for a long walk.

Tessa Williams, Community Engagement Specialist

Tessa Williams, a familiar face at WCC for the past five years, has recently transitioned to the newly established Volunteer Department as WCC’s Community Engagement Specialist.

Tessa, who began as a volunteer with WCC, has helped in just about every capacity you can imagine—facilities and cleaning, overnight whelping duty, and canine care staff.

“At first, it was the dogs … isn’t it always the dogs that bring us in?” said Tessa. “I don’t have any military family or affiliation, but seeing all the training and the tremendous joy these dogs bring the Veterans and how they help them transform their lives, it’s nothing short of amazing.”

Tessa earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing from Salisbury University.

When not working, Tessa enjoys cooking and listening to music (two of her favorite artists include Tove Lo and Dua Lipa).

Join us in extending a warm WCC welcome to both Molly and Tessa!

 

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Share the (Puppy) Love!

Unleash the love this Valentine’s Day with our paw-sitively heartwarming service dog-inspired printable cards, available for free download! Whether you want to make some paw-some cards for kids, students, colleagues, or anyone special, these adorable designs are perfect for sharing Valentine’s greetings. Simply, click here, print, and let the love wag its tail!

Paw-some Holiday Gift Ideas

Looking for some holiday gift ideas for fellow dog lovers or perhaps even your beloved four-legged? Look no fur-ther—we have some ideas for you that are sure to please even the pickiest on your list.

2024 WCC Calendars
Get ready for a tail-wagging year with our 2024 calendars featuring adorable WCC dogs—a perfect holiday treat for dog lovers! Each month is packed with paw-sitively delightful photos that’ll fetch you joy.

WCC Merch
Deck yourself out in our stylish WCC swag! From accessories and apparel to sweatshirts and hats, our merch is not only fashionable but also a paw-erful way to show your support for WCC.

Fleecy Fetch Dog Toy
Looking for a paw-some dog toy? Check out the WCC HuggleFleece® Camo ball, a collaboration between WCC and HuggleHounds! Every purchase supports Warrior Canine Connection.

You can find all these items and more on WCC’s online shop.

Donate
Consider making a donation to WCC as a fur-bulous gift—whether in remembrance of a loved one, human or canine. It’s a gesture that’ll warm hearts and wag tails alike!

Happy holidays from the entire WCC pack!

New Faces at WCC

We are excited to introduce our newest members of the WCC pack, who bring a wealth of experience and passion to our mission. Join us in extending a warm welcome to these dedicated individuals as they help us serve our Veterans. 

 

Jennifer Ashley, Events Coordinator
 We welcomed Jennifer Ashley to the WCC team at the end of August as our new Events Coordinator. In her role, she will be the mastermind behind the planning and logistics of all the events WCC hosts and participates in throughout the year. With our involvement in hundreds of events each year, Jennifer is primed to stay very busy.   

Before joining WCC, Jennifer supported both the International Services and Service to the Armed Forces lines of service at the American Red Cross. Inspired by the monthly visits from the therapy dogs at Walter Reed, she was drawn to work with an organization that included service dogs in its mission to aid recovering Service Members and Veterans. When Jennifer saw a job opening at WCC, she said it felt like serendipity; she instantly knew she had to apply.  

Jennifer shared, “I know how strong the animal-human connection is, and this position married my previous role of providing military support with my love of animals, so it was a total win-win.”

Jennifer earned her bachelor’s in business management and a minor in human development & family studies from the Pennsylvania State University. She has more than 10 years of experience working and volunteering for non-profits where she developed her skills in event planning, stakeholder engagement, development, volunteer management, and communication strategies.     

Outside of work, Jennifer, a huge animal lover, enjoys spending time with her best buddies, rescue dogs Duke and Moby, 6 and 8, playing tennis, and getting creative with all kinds of arts & crafts projects.  

 
Lisa Kilmer, Service Dog Training Instructor
Lisa Kilmer joined the WCC team as a Service Dog Training Instructor in September at its University of Pennsylvania program location in Philadelphia. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience working with animals with her, as she previously worked as a zookeeper. In her role, she had the opportunity to really dive into the training world by working with creatures big and small.  

Several years ago, Lisa turned her attention to dog training and has had the opportunity to work with dogs of all ages, breeds, temperaments, and behaviors through private lessons, as well as group settings. She realized her passion for working with dogs and loved helping others form a long and lasting bond with their dogs. She’s excited to be taking that experience to help train service dogs while working side by side with Veterans.  

“Dogs just don’t have a judgmental bone in their body,” said Lisa Kilmer. “They’re patient and understanding and in tune with human emotions. And they’re funny, too.” 

Lisa is a graduate of Rider University, where she received her bachelor’s in environmental science. 

Outside of WCC, Lisa and Bindi, her trusty Golden Retriever, who is a certified therapy dog, can be found volunteering with Angel Readers, a local volunteer group that offers a program called Angel on a Leash, where kids read to dogs and in the process, can overcome anxiety and nervousness while reading, as well as their fear of dogs. In addition to Bindi, Lisa also has a second dog, Spike, a Lab/Pit mix. When not working, she enjoys hiking and spending time at the beach. 

 

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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