U.S. Army First Sergeant Alex Brownstein says serving in the military has been the most meaningful thing he’s done in his life. We met him through Warrior Canine Connection’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training program in partnership with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). We are honored to share his Warrior story.
“First and foremost, for me, service to others is a very big thing, it’s kind of what has guided me for the past 18 years, different trials, different tribulations,” said Brownstein. “I frame it as if what I am doing benefits others, not just myself, I am doing something right. It’s been so impactful and has also afforded me the opportunity to see the world, have new experiences, and tackle some challenging assignments.”
Brownstein has endured several challenging assignments over the course of the past 18 years, including three deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was during one of his tours in Afghanistan that he sustained a traumatic brain injury due to exposure to an improvised explosive device (IED).
It was shortly after that when a physician told Brownstein about WWP and its programming that many Veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) benefit from. Brownstein enjoyed several events, including trivia nights, virtual events, and other outdoor activities.
It was at one WWP event that he discovered WCC and its MBTR training program. Essentially, Service Member and Veteran participants help train service dogs for fellow Warriors over the course of eight weeks. Through the training, Veterans help their comrades in arms, they can also benefit from therapeutic aspects of the program including increased impulse control, sleep and emotional regulation, as well as decreased stress levels, depression and hypervigilance.
“I loved it, absolutely loved it,” said Brownstein. “I’m not a very social person, so it allowed me to interact and integrate with a group of Veterans and volunteers through WCC in an environment where there was no pressure, no stress, you were there to help with the dogs and participate in a program that will help Veterans in need. I felt very strongly connected to it — it had the added benefit of showing me another way to decrease my own levels of stress and provided me with purpose outside of my military career.”
Now stationed at Fort Meade in Maryland, Brownstein works as an organizational leader, helping to take care of other soldiers. In fact, he also recently arranged to have his team visit WCC to learn more about the program and interact with the dogs.
“It reinforced the incredible bond that can be had between a human and a dog,” said Brownstein. “Some of the bonds I’ve had in the military are the strongest I’ll ever have, and I found a lot of similarities with the dogs.”
To learn more about WWP’s programs, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org. For more information about WCC’s MBTR program, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.
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Honor Our Heroes: Nominate a Female Namesake for a WCC Service Dog
We invite you to be a part of this heartwarming tradition by nominating a female namesake for our future litters. These namesakes represent extraordinary female Service Members and Veterans who have selflessly dedicated their lives to serving our nation. Through our namesake program, you have the extraordinary opportunity to immortalize their legacies by naming one of our service dogs after them.
These four-legged heroes will go on to provide invaluable support to fellow Service Members and Veterans, aiding them in their journey to overcome both visible and invisible wounds. We are especially in need of female names for our pups. Nominate a namesake today!
How Warrior Canine Connection uses the comfort of dogs to help veterans overcome trauma
Jennifer Desher, service dog training instructor, explains how Warrior Canine Connection helps veterans overcome trauma through the comfort of dogs. Veteran Paula Crawford-Gamble brings service dog Dollie to the FOX 29 studio to give us the inside scoop. Watch the full story on Fox 29 Philadelphia.
Former Secretary of Defense, General (Ret.) James Mattis to Deliver WCC’s 2023 Graduation Keynote Address
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BOYDS, Maryland – Today, Warrior Canine Connection announced that Former Secretary of Defense, General (Ret.) James Mattis, a distinguished military leader renowned for his strategic brilliance, unwavering leadership, and deep commitment to national security, will deliver the keynote address during its 2023 virtual graduation ceremony on Saturday, September 23, 2023.
General Mattis’s illustrious career includes serving as a four-star Marine Corps general, culminating in his appointment as the 26th Secretary of Defense, and as an author. His strategic acumen and profound dedication to the security and well-being of our nation have earned him widespread acclaim both nationally and internationally.
“We are both humbled and grateful to have General James Mattis, one of America’s greatest Warriors, join us as the keynote speaker for this year’s graduation ceremony,” said Rick Yount, executive director and founder, Warrior Canine Connection. “His remarkable leadership and dedication to service perfectly align with the training we instill in our canine graduates, who will go on to serve our country’s heroes.”
General Mattis has a more personal connection to WCC, as he is the namesake for WCC’s “Mattis,” a facility dog trained and placed by the organization in 2022. Upon being nominated for the honor, General Mattis shared, “By training dogs for fellow Veterans, Warrior Canine Connection carries on that finest American tradition of assisting one another through the tough times in life,” said General James Mattis.
Hear more from General Mattis about being a WCC namesake and the impact service dogs are having on our nation’s Veterans here.
WCC’s 2023 Graduation Ceremony can be viewed on both WCC’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. To learn more about WCC, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.
For media inquiries, photos and additional information, please contact:
Beth Bourgeois
Media Relations Officer
Warrior Canine Connection
719-216-3206
bethannbourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org
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Warrior Canine Connection Awarded $125,000 in Grants to Help Veterans with PTSD and TBI
Funding to Provide WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery Training Program to Veterans in Virginia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BOYDS, Maryland – Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $125,000 in grant funding from the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. The funding will enable WCC to provide its Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) service dog training program to more Virginia Veterans through the Rappahannock Regional Veterans Docket at the Spotsylvania Circuit Court, Fort Belvoir and in partnership with fellow area nonprofit organizations.
The funding will enable WCC to engage Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in the critical mission of helping to train future service dogs for fellow Veterans through its MBTR training program for a 12-month period. By participating in the program, Veterans can receive therapeutic benefits that research has shown reduces symptoms of PTSD and improves mental health.
“We are deeply grateful to the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, Suicide Prevention and Opioid Addiction Services Program (SOS) for its generous grant funding, which will significantly bolster our efforts to provide programming and support for Veterans in the state,” said Rick Yount, executive director and founder, Warrior Canine Connection. “This invaluable support enables us to expand our MBTR programming and resources, ensuring that these Warriors can benefit from the healing power of human-animal bond.”
In addition, grant funds will also support the placement of up to two WCC trained facility dogs at long-term, skilled nursing care facilities for Veterans. WCC facility dogs have the potential to impact the mental health of hundreds of Virginia Veterans.
“The purpose of this award issued by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services is for the provision of comprehensive suicide prevention and opioid addiction services for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF) in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Angela Porter, PhD., CSOTP, Director of Suicide Prevention and Opioid Addictions Services for the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. “The Virginia Department of Veterans Services – SOS Program aims to enhance understanding of suicide prevention and opioid addiction among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF) and build community support capacity to ensure the RIGHT HELP is widely available RIGHT NOW to military-connected citizens and families.”
WCC’s MBTR training model is the foundation upon which Department of Defense (DoD) Animal Assisted Therapy programs have been built, and it also inspired passage of the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act in 2021. This important legislation calls for the U.D. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to replicate WCC’s MBTR program at five pilot sites across the country. The organization has collaborated on that implementation and currently serves as the nonprofit service partner at two of the five VA hospital sites. Veterans participating in the MBTR program frequently report a decrease in isolative behaviors, decreased levels of anxiety, improved quality of sleep, reduced level of stigma, increased sense of purpose, improvement in family relationships, reduced hypervigilance and improved communications skills.
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Join WCC’s Class of 2023 Virtual Graduation
The virtual ceremony will be marked by powerful Veteran Service Dog Team videos, namesake stories, and so much more!
In addition to the virtual ceremony, WCC will host an in-person celebration at its Healing Quarters in Boyds, Maryland, from 1-4 p.m. ET, and everyone is welcome to join. Members of this year’s graduating class, including Veteran Service Dog Teams, will attend the celebration, as well as many from previous graduations. In addition, puppy parents, who have helped train the dogs, as well as several namesake families who have a personal connection to dogs named after them or a loved one, will also be in attendance.
All graduating service dogs will have completed WCC’s intensive, Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training conducted by Warriors in recovery who learn to train mobility service dogs for fellow Warriors as a means of addressing their own symptoms of combat stress.
Whether virtually or in-person, we hope you will join us to celebrate WCC’s class of 2023!
WCC’s Abigail Named Official U.S. Public Health Service Mascot
Lt. Cmdr. Abigail’s namesake is Abigail Adams, the former First Lady of the United States, who has a historical connection to the service. The origin and history of the USPHS Commissioned Corps trace back to July 16, 1798, when Congress passed an Act, signed by President John Adams, creating the U.S. Marine Hospital Service to protect against the spread of disease from sailors returning from overseas ports and thus began the story of the Public Health Service.
“The mascot is a very welcome resource for Public Health Service officers and the communities we serve. As we continue to see an increase in mental health struggles across the country, I hope Lt. Cmdr. Abigail will serve as a beacon of positivity as she performs her duties.” U.S. Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health, Adm. Rachel Levine
WCC facility dogs receive extensive training and are placed with a primary handler who brings the dog into their place of employment to perform a task for either the employees of the company or the clients of the handler. Facility dogs can perform a variety of tasks, including stress relief and public engagement. Additional WCC facility dogs have been placed in various roles, including several sheriff departments working in roles including alongside a chaplain and in public relations, as well as a Veterans homeless shelter, a Veteran Service Center, among others.
Learn more about Lt. Cmdr. Abigail and her official role, click here.
Siblings Host Yard Sale to Raise Money for WCC
The trio heard about a neighborhood yard sale and a light bulb went off: sell their no-longer-used items to raise money for WCC. Anna, Charlie and Lauren spent an afternoon cleaning out their basement and piling up toys, games and other items they’re no longer interested in to raise some cash for WCC. And to sweeten the deal, mom and Dad, Diana and Tim, offered to match the money their three kids raised toward the donation.
“Our grandpa was in the Air Force,” said Anna. Her mom, Diana, added, “My dad served 22 years in the Air Force before retiring, including serving in Vietnam, so the military and animal connection is something we love to support.”
Not only is the family supportive of the military, but they’re also no strangers to WCC. Friends of a WCC trainer, the family has hosted WCC dogs at their house as part of their training and socialization around children. The family even visited the WCC Healing Quarters in the past to learn more about its mission and meet some of the puppies and dogs in training.
Not to mention, Anna, Charlie and Lauren have two very special pet dogs of their own — Leo and Rocco. Although young, they totally know how happy dogs can make people.
Anna shared, “I just like them a lot. Sometimes they can be sassy and sometimes they can be sweet and cuddle up with you on the couch.”
When asked about how it felt to do all that hard work to help others, all three children were all smiles, and Charlie responded with a resounding “thumbs up.”
Mom and dad are pretty proud, too.
Your generous tax-deductible donation helps WCC breed, train and provide highly skilled assistance dogs to wounded Veterans and Military Families at absolutely no charge to them. To donate or learn more about how you support WCC, click here.
Warrior Spotlight: U.S. Army First Sergeant Alex Brownstein
“First and foremost, for me, service to others is a very big thing, it’s kind of what has guided me for the past 18 years, different trials, different tribulations,” said Brownstein. “I frame it as if what I am doing benefits others, not just myself, I am doing something right. It’s been so impactful and has also afforded me the opportunity to see the world, have new experiences, and tackle some challenging assignments.”
Brownstein has endured several challenging assignments over the course of the past 18 years, including three deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was during one of his tours in Afghanistan that he sustained a traumatic brain injury due to exposure to an improvised explosive device (IED).
It was shortly after that when a physician told Brownstein about WWP and its programming that many Veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) benefit from. Brownstein enjoyed several events, including trivia nights, virtual events, and other outdoor activities.
It was at one WWP event that he discovered WCC and its MBTR training program. Essentially, Service Member and Veteran participants help train service dogs for fellow Warriors over the course of eight weeks. Through the training, Veterans help their comrades in arms, they can also benefit from therapeutic aspects of the program including increased impulse control, sleep and emotional regulation, as well as decreased stress levels, depression and hypervigilance.
“I loved it, absolutely loved it,” said Brownstein. “I’m not a very social person, so it allowed me to interact and integrate with a group of Veterans and volunteers through WCC in an environment where there was no pressure, no stress, you were there to help with the dogs and participate in a program that will help Veterans in need. I felt very strongly connected to it — it had the added benefit of showing me another way to decrease my own levels of stress and provided me with purpose outside of my military career.”
Now stationed at Fort Meade in Maryland, Brownstein works as an organizational leader, helping to take care of other soldiers. In fact, he also recently arranged to have his team visit WCC to learn more about the program and interact with the dogs.
“It reinforced the incredible bond that can be had between a human and a dog,” said Brownstein. “Some of the bonds I’ve had in the military are the strongest I’ll ever have, and I found a lot of similarities with the dogs.”
To learn more about WWP’s programs, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org. For more information about WCC’s MBTR program, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.
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Calling All Dog Lovers: WCC is Seeking Puppy Parent Volunteers
What does being a Puppy Parent entail? Puppy Parent volunteers help care for, raise and train service dogs in training for approximately two years before they go on to be placed with Service Members and Veterans with visible and invisible wounds.
The need for Puppy Parents is at the following locations in Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia:
The journey is not just about training a puppy—it’s about nurturing a future service dog who will bring hope and assistance to one of our nation’s heroes. Please take a moment to learn more and hear just how rewarding the experience of being a Puppy Parent can be here.
To learn more or to fill out a Puppy Parent volunteer application, visit Become a Puppy Parent – Warrior Canine Connection.
WCC’s Dog Days of Summer Movie Watchlist
We tapped our WCC team to share their favorite dog-related movies as inspiration for your next movie night — check them out below.
“Without too much thought my favorite dog movie as of late is a Disney Plus Short that is about 10 minutes long called Kitbull. It’s about a chained-up and neglected Pitbull teaming up with a stray kitten. Their first meeting is initially fraught with posturing and fear and quickly turns into mutual understanding that kindness knows no species. They are a very unlikely and adorable duo that make me cry every time I watch it. Because it’s so short, it’s especially poignant. 10/10 would recommend.”
– Michele T.
“My favorite dog movie (although I haven’t watched it in years because I don’t want to bawl my eyes out) is Homeward Bound. To me, this movie is a story about perseverance and triumph as well as it depicts the wholesomeness of a human-animal bond.”
– Jennifer D.
“Aisle of Dogs has always been a favorite of mine since it was released. The art style is so well done in the movie! The dog characters have great depth to them and represent unique backgrounds and personalities so well! I love the “How it was Made” of the movie. Stop motion figures and such fine details into every shot and scene!! An appreciation of fine details for the best outcome, much like in Dog Training!”
– Ketcher T.
“My favorite dog movie is The Art of Racing in the Rain. I love how the story is told through the dog’s point of view and he’s so insightful. His bond with his owner is so insightful, and I love how he’s so in tune with what’s going on, even when his family isn’t. But it’s not for the faint of heart — a box of tissues is an absolute necessity when watching this one.”
– Beth B.
“My favorite dog movie is Marmaduke. It is just so funny and silly and doesn’t make me cry like most dog movies.”
– Riley S.
“That’s easy … Old Yeller (except the ending) and Benji. I don’t know that there’s any real reason that they are among favorites other than I probably “bonded” with the dogs on some level as a kid. …and since I watched both movies in my childhood (probably as reruns) they bring back memories that extend beyond the movie, I think. I haven’t watched either of them since so I don’t know that I’d have the same affinity for them as I remember having.”
– Kevin S.
“I always loved “Clifford the Big Red Dog” as a kid. I shared the same name with the girl character, Emily Elizabeth so I would tell my friends my mom named me after the book. That wasn’t the truth, but it was fun to play around with. Now, my daughter’s favorite book is Clifford. She literally asks me to read it every day. The cover’s fallen off and the last page is ripped out, but it’s creating new memories with her. My favorite dog movie (and book) is still Clifford. Now, just need to wait until she is old enough to sit through the movie.”
– Emily P.
“I don’t watch dog movies; they make me cry LOL. I do love a Scooby Doo though.”
-Sarah D.
“The Adventures of Milo and Otis – This was one of the first dog movies that I saw when I was little. I loved the friendship between the cat and dog and the adventure that they went on together. Even though their “adventure” took them on separate paths as they grew older, in the end they came back together, and it was like no time had passed. I think the same can be said for humans. It’s a testament to this ride we call life and how the friendships we have evolve and last through our lifetime.”
– Lydia D.
“My favorite dog movie is Balto. It’s one of my favorite childhood movies. My guy stepped up as a sled dog to help deliver an important vaccine in Alaska!”
– Cy F.
Don’t see your favorite on the list? Drop us a line and let us know!
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