$200,000 Grant Empowers Warrior Canine Connection’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery Training Program

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Funding Brings DAV’s Support to WCC for $700,000 Since 2016

BOYDS, Maryland – Today, Warrior Canine Connection announced it has been awarded a generous grant of $200,000 from the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Charitable Service Trust in support of its Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) Training Program. This substantial contribution marks the Trust’s largest gift to WCC to date and reaffirms its commitment to Veteran mental health and support, which are central focus areas for DAV.

“We are profoundly grateful to the DAV Charitable Service Trust for its partnership and continued investment in our organization,” said Rick Yount, executive director and founder, Warrior Canine Connection. “Together, we will continue to make a positive and lasting impact on the lives on our Veterans, ensuring they receive the programming, support and service dog assistance they need to thrive and lead fulfilling lives.”

The MBTR Program, developed by WCC, is designed to help Service Members and Veterans in recovery to train service dogs for their fellow Warriors. In doing so, Warriors 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.

“The Trust is proud to support Warrior Canine Connection because they understand the bond between veterans as much as they understand the animal-human bond,” said DAV Charitable Service Trust President Richard Marbes. “By empowering recovering veterans to train service dogs for fellow veterans in need, WCC instills purpose and provides hope to those who are on their healing journey.”

Since 2016, the Trust’s unwavering support has been instrumental in advancing WCC’s mission. Its total contributions to WCC now amount to an impressive $700,000. Two years ago, WCC bestowed upon DAV the prestigious Wag of the Tail Award, recognizing its remarkable leadership in the field of Veteran support. This grant represents yet another significant milestone in their enduring partnership.

Over the years, WCC has been actively engaged in DAV conferences and events, sharing its expertise and knowledge in service dog training and mental health support for Veterans. In a gesture of gratitude, in 2018 WCC named a puppy in honor of the first female DAV national commander, Delphine Metcalf-Foster, to acknowledge her groundbreaking contributions to the Veterans’ community.

For more information on WCC and its MBTR training program, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.

 

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Media Contact:
Beth Bourgeois
Warrior Canine Connection
beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org
(719)216-3206

 

About Warrior Canine Connection
Warrior Canine Connection is a pioneering organization that utilizes a Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to empower returning combat Veterans who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while in service to our country. Based on the concept of Warriors helping Warriors, WCC’s therapeutic service dog training program is designed to mitigate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other challenges, while giving injured combat Veterans a sense of purpose, and help in reintegrating back into their families and communities. For more information, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.

 

About the DAV Charitable Service Trust
DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Charitable Service Trust is dedicated to a single purpose: empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. To carry out this responsibility, the Trust supports physical and psychological rehabilitation programs, enhances research and mobility for veterans with amputations and spinal cord injuries, benefits aging veterans, aids and shelters veterans experiencing homelessness, and evaluates and addresses the needs of veterans wounded in recent wars and conflicts. For ill and injured veterans of every era, the Trust also supports programs that benefit their caregivers and families. Learn more at cst.dav.org.

New Faces at WCC: Val Skinner

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The WCC pack is excited to welcome new service dog training instructor Valerie “Val” Skinner to its team! 

Val came on board in April and is working at WCC’s Healing Quarters in Boyds, where she is responsible for the evaluation and skill refinement of on-site service dogs in training and advanced training dogs. She will also support puppy parents and puppy development. 

“I joined WCC because I really love working with Veterans,” said Val. “They’re relatable, down-to-earth and aren’t here for any other reason than to help make their lives and others’ better. I really appreciate all the time and efforts they put into the training the dogs for these important placements.” 

An experienced dog trainer, Val has spent several decades training dogs, beginning with a rescue and placement organization for Rottweilers, followed by several years working with another ADI-accredited service dog organization. Val received her education and training at Bergin University.  

When not working, Val enjoys going to the beach, spending time outdoors and cooking up some BBQ with her family. 

Please join us in welcoming Val to the WCC team! 

Golden Retriever Life: Spreading Smiles

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If you like dogs and spend time on social media, you’ve probably already heard of “Golden Retriever Life (GRL)” and have seen videos of Kevin and Katie Bubolz with their two golden retrievers, Ellie and Emma. With over 9 million followers across their social media channels, GRL is widely known for their cute dog videos and helpful training tips. They have even made appearances on famous television shows such as “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” and “The Rachael Ray Show.” While creating entertaining and engaging social media content is what drives most content creators, Kevin and Katie are just as interested in the philanthropic aspect of what they do. 

“Our focus has and always will be on our mission to spread smiles,” says Kevin, who has teamed up with his wife Katie on this full-time entrepreneurial journey. “Over the past few years, we’ve been truly blessed to connect with millions of people around the world. We hope our fun-loving content featuring Ellie and Emma brings happiness to your life. We are a community that celebrates the joy of having a dog and the many ways they enrich our lives.”  

Kevin and Katie’s journey as content creators has, in their own words, followed a nontraditional path. Kevin is an Army Veteran with an MBA from the University of Minnesota, and Katie practiced as a speech-language pathologist for eight years before pivoting from the medical field to join Kevin in their full-time entrepreneurial journey. It was the philanthropic appeal of animal-assisted therapy that led Kevin and Katie to pursue spreading smiles. 

“As an Army pilot, I saw first-hand the benefits of animal-assisted interactions on mental health while deployed overseas. This inspired me to get a puppy, Ellie, and create a similar impact in my local community,” Kevin reflected. “As a therapy dog team, we volunteered in schools, nursing homes, and hospitals for several years. However, in 2020 we were prevented from in-person interactions and pivoted to social media.” 

In searching for new ways to spread smiles, GRL found Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) in 2022. “We wanted to connect with a nearby organization that trains service dogs for Veterans. WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery model is unique and impressive! They discovered a way for one dog to impact an average of 60 Veterans! As a Veteran, who has seen first-hand the impact of animal-assisted interactions, I can assure you this organization has a tremendous effect on the lives of Veterans. The work WCC is doing is life-changing to those who have given so much to our country.” 

GRL’s support of WCC has come in many forms, from creating collaboration videos with WCC to helping to raise awareness of our No-Fail Mission to holding a 4x4x48 Challenge Fundraiser on GoFundMe, which raised over $34,000 for WCC. 

Be sure to follow GRL’s journey on all of their social media platforms! Plus, GRL is working on a new training course/community to help people build better relationships with their dogs. If you head to their website (https://www.goldenretrieverlife.com/training) and leave your email, they will let you know when the course is ready this summer! 

Warrior Canine Connection’s Innovative Service Dog Training Program Celebrates 5-Year Milestone at Buncombe County Veterans Treatment Court

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Veterans Train Service Dogs as Part of Their Own Recovery

Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) is celebrating a milestone—five years since it has partnered with the Buncombe County Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) to provide service dog training as part of its community service options for Veteran participants.

Veterans involved in the VTC programming are often required to complete a set number of community service hours. The dog training — offered through WCC — is one of the options on the docket. Training takes place on a weekly basis at the courthouse and Veterans can ​participate within the WCC program for the duration of their VTC commitment.

Judge Marvin Pope, who has presided over the program since its inception and is a dog lover himself, says he knows the powerful role dogs can play as a friend, companion and confidant.

“When Warrior Canine Connection became a possibility for Veteran Treatment Court, I knew that this was a unique opportunity to give our Veteran clients this “link” to something they may not have experienced before, plus bond them to a “personality” that is faithful, friendly, and most importantly “forgiving” no matter what the client may or may not have done in the past,” said Judge Pope. “I have seen this work so well for so many of our Veteran clients. I want to continue this relationship with Warrior Canine Connection and VTC forever.”

VTC participants learn to train service dogs for their fellow Warriors. In doing so, Veterans 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. Since its inception, Veteran participants have logged more than 1,900 community service hours.

“I always looked forward to working with the dogs; learning how to train them,” shared one VTC graduate. “I like who I am when I get to be with the dogs. I think the dogs understood me even when I couldn’t understand myself. They helped me graduate from the VTC. I want to work with animals and give back.”

Amy Guidash, WCC Asheville program manager and liaison to the Buncombe County VTC Program, says the program has been successful because it focuses on impacting its Veteran participants.

“The Veterans participating have been able to make WCC part of their recovery plan,” said Guidash. “Many of our participants voluntarily continue with the program after completion, staying actively involved by devoting a couple hours per week to give back to their fellow Veterans.”

Kevin Rumley, coordinator for the Buncombe County VTC, has watched the program since it took shape five years ago and continues to be inspired by its impact on the Veterans involved.

“I am amazed by the work of WCC with our VTC veterans,” said Rumley. “Michele, Amy, Robin (WCC staff and volunteers) and the WCC dogs have supported our veterans through every step of the VTC journey. From Phase-1 veterans who are navigating a new life without substances/drugs and all the requirements of the court, to our graduating veterans who are setting future focused goals and working towards careers, WCC is providing the veterans with the skills of self/emotion regulation, behavior modification, and trauma resiliency. I am honored to celebrate five years of our partnership and look forward to another five years of advancing healing for our veterans. WCC saves lives!”

Governor Moore Honored with Namesake of Service Dog in Training

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Service Dog in Training “Wes” to Impact the Lives of Service Members and Veterans

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland – Governor Wes Moore has received a great new honor—that of namesake to “Wes,” a service dog in training at Warrior Canine Connection, a nonprofit based in Boyds, Md. WCC’s namesake program was designed to recognize the great men and women, both past and present, who have selflessly served our country.

Governor Moore accepted the namesake honor, after being nominated for the opportunity by Secretary Anthony Woods, Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs. Last week, “Wes met Wes” at WCC’s 80-acre farm property in Boyds, Md. In addition to Governor Moore, his son, James, members of his office, along with Secretary Woods, and other state officials were in attendance.

“When you have one dog that’s serving a group of Veterans, it’s like what happens in our units—one person is working and serving whole collections of others—that’s the brotherhood, that’s the bond, that’s the connection,” said Governor Moore. “I am truly honored by the fact that we’re going have one of our canine battle buddies with my name on it.”

WCC’s namesake program is meant to honor the legacies of those who have served our country.

“Service dog in training Wes is the perfect namesake addition to our pack,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “As a Veteran himself, Governor Moore is tremendously committed to his fellow Veterans and their families in our great state. This is a huge honor for us, and we look forward to watching puppy Wes grow up as he works alongside dozens and dozens of Veterans, all whose lives he’ll impact along the way, before being placed with a Veteran or military family. Puppy “Wes” certainly has big shoes to fill, being named after an incredible Veteran who puts all of his heart into his service as Governor of Maryland.”

A nonprofit, WCC breeds, trains and places highly skilled service dogs with service members and Veterans with visible and invisible wounds. WCC uses a training program called Mission Based Trauma Recovery, whereby it enlists Service Members and Veterans in recovery to help train future service dogs for their fellow Warriors. In doing so, 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.

 

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Media Contact:
Beth Bourgeois
Warrior Canine Connection
719-216-3206
beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org

Warrior Canine Connection has veterans volunteer to train service dogs for other veterans

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BOYDS, Md. – WCC enlists veterans in their program to train service dogs that can help other veterans. The program is meant to improve the mental health of those who served in the military. Training the puppies helps the veterans relieve stress and can serve as an outlet for them. Watch the full story from Capital News Service.

Army Veteran Finds Healing in Helping Others

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Today we introduce you to U.S. Army Reserve Sergeant First Class (Ret.) Paul Kelly, who’s had a unique military career. Post-retirement, he has devoted his time and talents to multiple volunteer efforts—all to benefit his fellow Veterans.

Paul Kelly was always intrigued by the military; his father was a U.S. Marine, and his uncles served, too. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1979 and spent four years on active duty as an infantry solider in Northern Germany before becoming an electrician for the federal government, where he built a 30-year career.

But after the events of 9/11, Paul was compelled to re-enlist—20 years after his original service—only, this time in the U.S. Army Reserves, where he served as a construction engineer and a basic electricity instructor. During that time, he completed a one-year deployment to Iraq in 2003 and three deployments to Afghanistan from 2008 to 2012, where he worked as a construction engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers before retiring in 2015.  

It was during his last deployment that Paul was injured in the line of duty. He shared, “I got the Purple Heart … it’s not the kind of award you want, but I’m honored to have received it.”

A family man at heart, after retiring from his 30-year electrician career in 2018, Paul enjoyed spending more time with his wife, Annie, two grown children and his three grandchildren. He also dove into volunteer efforts, including serving as a mentor with Wounded Warrior Project’s (WWP) Mentor Program; founding the Poolesville Military Support Group; acting as Veteran Liaison with Frederick County Hospice; and helping to train service dogs through Warrior Canine Connection’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training program. 

Paul works closely with Wounded Warrior Project’s peer support group. The group meets monthly to talk amongst each other, and they also participate in other activities including indoor sky diving, axe throwing, arcades, and WWP’s Project Odyssey.

“It’s a good bunch of guys, we share things that work for us in a comfortable setting, and it’s a great bonding experience,” said Paul. “We all miss the camaraderie the military provided.”

He also volunteers with WCC. In fact, what started as his volunteer participation in its eight-week Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training program, has long since led to him being a regular volunteer fixture at WCC’s Healing Quarters at both its Boyds and Frederick, Maryland, locations.  

“I learned about WCC in the newspaper, so I called them six months before I retired to see if I could help them out,” said Paul. “I wanted to help them, and the program ended up being therapy for me. What I get out of it is just phenomenal, like magic healing,” said Paul.  

Paul says volunteering for nonprofit organizations that support Veterans, including WCC and Wounded Warrior Project, brings him purpose, while helping him at the same time. He didn’t anticipate it, but by helping others, has helped him. “Both organizations are wonderful, and both have helped me out a lot,” says Paul. “And I’m happy to give back to them because they’ve done so much for me.”

In fact, working with WCC’s service dogs in training spurred Paul to enroll in an online course to become a certified, professional dog trainer. He says he wants to specialize in training service dogs and is actively visiting seniors and Veterans with his own dog, Luke, a 5-year-old Golden Retriever, who is a therapy dog. 

My story: Finding peace in helping other veterans

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Every Tuesday morning, I drive 15 minutes from my home in Swannanoa to Asheville to volunteer with Warrior Canine Connection, a nonprofit that breeds, trains and places highly skilled service dogs with veterans with visible and invisible wounds.

As a U.S. Army veteran, I have become intimately familiar with the important role service dogs can play in a veteran’s life. Read the full story in Mountain Xpress.

Warrior Canine Connection on Small Town Big Deal

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Christmas comes early for a special organization that trains service dogs to support veterans who have been injured or traumatized by war. Rodney and Jann return to Warrior Canine Connection with a surprise gift that will transform these healing grounds and help ensure America’s heroes have a sanctuary for recovery. To watch the full story on Small Town Big Deal, click here.

Warrior Canine Connection Receives $10,000 Grant from Veterans Help Group

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Funding to Support WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery Training Program

BOYDS, Maryland – Veterans Help Group (VHG) has generously donated $10,000 to Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) to help support placement of skilled service dogs with wounded Veterans, and the organization’s unique Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) program. The MBTR program enlists Service Members and Veterans to help train service dogs for fellow Warriors as part of their own treatment for invisible wounds of war. 

“Veterans Help Group is a fantastic organization that is making a difference in the lives of Veterans,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “VHG is 100% dedicated to providing assistance, care and resources to our nation’s Veterans, and we are immensely thankful for their support.” 

WCC’s MBTR program teaches Veterans how to work with service dogs in training, which fulfills a time-honored military tradition of Warriors helping 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. 

Joe Waring, Board Member for Veterans Help Group, stated: “Warrior Canine is one of those charities that brings tears to your eyes because of how passionate their work is. We are privileged to help them serve other Veterans.” 

Veterans Help Group was founded more than 15 years ago to advocate for disabled Veterans in securing their disability benefits.

For more information, please contact Beth Bourgeois, Warrior Canine Connection, at beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org or 719-216-3206. 

 

About Warrior Canine Connection
Warrior Canine Connection is a pioneering organization that utilizes a Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to empower returning combat Veterans who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while in service to our country. Based on the concept of Warriors helping Warriors, WCC’s therapeutic service dog training program is designed to mitigate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other challenges, while giving injured combat Veterans a sense of purpose, and help in reintegrating back into their families and communities. For more information, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.   

About Veterans Help Group
Veterans Help Group is committed to improving the quality of life for Veterans and their families by aggressively advocating for the favorable and timely resolution of their disability claims. The group is able to serve Veterans in all 50 States.  For more information, visit www.veteranshelpgroup.com. 

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