Col. (Ret.) David Rabb spent his 41-year military career helping others. As a retired VA Social Worker and U.S. Army Reserve Colonel, Rabb spent decades in positions of leadership and mental health—specifically treating those affected by operational and combat stress, battle fatigue, traumatic experiences, grief and loss, and moral injuries.
Rabb enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 17 and served four years active duty before being discharged from the service as an O311 Infantryman (E-5). From there, he went on to earn his bachelor’s (Illinois State University) and master’s degrees (University of Chicago).
After a 10-year break in service, in 1985 Rabb returned to the military as a licensed clinical social worker for the VA and the U.S. Army and Army Reserves.
Rabb’s assignments included serving as Commander of two Combat Stress Control units: The 785th Medical Company from Fort Snelling, Minnesota, that deployed (2004-2005) to Iraq; and the 113th Medical Detachment from Garden Grove, California, that deployed (2011-2012) to Afghanistan.
Other highlights in Rabb’s career included serving as Director of Psychologist Health for the 63rd Regional Support Command in Mountain View, Calif.; U.S. Army Western Regional Medical Command Transition and Care Coordinator; and National Director, Veterans Health Administration Diversity and Inclusion Office, Washington, D.C.
Achievement after achievement. And then in 2015, life changed: Rabb had a massive stroke and was unconscious in the ICU for a week. The doctors told his wife, Kim, he had a seven-percent survival rate. But Rabb didn’t get the memo.
One week later, Rabb opened his eyes. He had lost partial vision in one, he couldn’t walk, he couldn’t talk, he couldn’t do much of anything, but he was alive.
“I, essentially, had to learn everything all over again. I spent a ton of time in rehab. That was tough for me—a huge role reversal for me—there I was, relying solely on others,” said Rabb.
Rabb says he wouldn’t be where he is today without the love and care from all those who helped him—from the hospital and rehabilitation staff to his wife, Kim, and his caring family. And as of 2017, WCC’s Gunny Quail, Rabb’s service dog—a doting yellow Lab.
“Our relationship has evolved—it’s dynamic, it’s beautiful, it’s centering, it’s fun, it’s sharing, it’s a lot of love, and it’s a lot of learning about each other,” says Rabb. “We explore the world together … it’s nice to have a partner; he helps me, he centers, and he helps ground me.”
Rabb and Quail, who he nicknamed “Gunny,” as a nod to his service in the Marine Corps, graduated as part of Warrior Canine Connection’s class of 2019.
Rabb had met Rick Yount, WCC founder and executive director, many years earlier at the Palo Alto VA, and he reached out all those years later to get involved in WCC’s service dog training program.
The two can be found together just about everywhere. In April, Rabb and Gunny Quail joined other Minnesotans outside in a memorial gathering during George Floyd’s memorial. Many others assembled around them, drawn in at the site of an adorable yellow Lab, who Rabb says brought calm and joy during a dark and tense time.
“He [Gunny] engages … a lot of people who want to pet him—people just want to touch him and connect,” said Rabb. “He creates safe spaces. It offers an opportunity to reach out and really connect with the world.”
Rabb and Gunny Quail can be found together during their daily walks or side-by-side while the Colonel works on his poetry, a hobby for which he’s won several awards. Together, they tackle whatever comes their way.
“Well, with Gunny, what makes things better is that there are no worries,” said Rabb. “We’re in sync. We’re on a mission together.”
Warrior Canine Connection Holding 2021 Virtual Graduation Ceremony September 25
Class of 2021 expected to be WCC’s largest to-date
Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 25 to join Warrior Canine Connection in congratulating its 2021 class of Veteran Service Dog Teams! The virtual ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. Eastern Time and can be viewed on WCC’s Facebook page.
The ninth annual graduation will feature WCC’s largest graduating class to date, with more than a dozen Veterans and dogs included in the announcement ceremony. The celebration will include powerful Veterans stories, adorable dog footage, awards, special acknowledgments, and more!
“Honoring graduates through our commencement ceremony is one of WCC’s most important traditions,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “Even though they won’t physically be walking across the stage that day, we are privileged to share their stories and achievements with their families, friends, and colleagues, as well as WCC’s dedicated volunteers, supporters and extended pack thanks to modern-day technology.”
Following the virtual graduation, WCC will host an in-person, post-graduation celebration at its Healing Quarters in Boyds, Maryland—set to begin at 12:30 p.m. E.T.
Stay tuned to WCC’s social channels for additional information!
Q&A with explore.org
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.
Thank You, AmazonSmile!
AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to assist Warrior Canine Connection every time you shop, at no cost to you. You’ll find the exact same prices, selection and experience as on Amazon.com but AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to WCC. In fact, to date, AmazonSmile has generated $22,839 in support to WCC.
To turn your shopping into a force for good, simply go to smile.amazon.com/ch/45-2981579 to elect WCC as your charity of choice. It’s just that easy!
Thank you in advance for your support! And thank you to AmazonSmile for its commitment to supporting nonprofits!
New Face at WCC: Brady Wilks
In his role, Brady is doing great things to lead the WCC communications team to help raise awareness of the organization’s mission and the impact of its programs on Veterans with visible and invisible wounds.
Brady has worked in the communications field for years and has vast experience in photography, design, communications, music, art, and education. Brady graduated from the Academy of Art in San Francisco with a master’s in photography and he earned his bachelor’s in graphics and photography from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.
With family roots in the military, he is enthusiastic and passionate about WCC’s mission to serve our Service Members and Veterans. Brady has spent years honing his craft and artistic eye and says he is honored to put his experience to use at WCC.
“When we tell WCC’s story and share the experience of our Veterans, staff, volunteers, and supporters, we are making a positive impact to improve the lives of so many,” said Brady. “I also feel like I am doing my part to engage and celebrate the dedication of our staff and volunteers to one of the most profound missions I’ve ever known.”
For those who visit WCC’s Healing Quarters, you may see Brady walking Rossi to or from work. Rossi is a WCC Ambassador dog and quite often the “cover girl” for many of our social media videos.
When not working at WCC, Brady can most often be found spending time with his wife, Laurie, and son, Soren. Together, they enjoy playing games, creating things, going on adventures, and finding ways to laugh together.
“I hope that what I do goes beyond helping WCC and our organization’s goals but to also be a good model for my son,” said Brady. “It is my hope for him, the Veterans in my life, my ancestors, my family, friends, and peers to be proud of what I do.”
We are honored to have Brady as a valued member of our WCC team.
Veteran Service Dog Team Spotlight: David Rabb & WCC’s Gunny Quail
Rabb enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 17 and served four years active duty before being discharged from the service as an O311 Infantryman (E-5). From there, he went on to earn his bachelor’s (Illinois State University) and master’s degrees (University of Chicago).
After a 10-year break in service, in 1985 Rabb returned to the military as a licensed clinical social worker for the VA and the U.S. Army and Army Reserves.
Rabb’s assignments included serving as Commander of two Combat Stress Control units: The 785th Medical Company from Fort Snelling, Minnesota, that deployed (2004-2005) to Iraq; and the 113th Medical Detachment from Garden Grove, California, that deployed (2011-2012) to Afghanistan.
Other highlights in Rabb’s career included serving as Director of Psychologist Health for the 63rd Regional Support Command in Mountain View, Calif.; U.S. Army Western Regional Medical Command Transition and Care Coordinator; and National Director, Veterans Health Administration Diversity and Inclusion Office, Washington, D.C.
Achievement after achievement. And then in 2015, life changed: Rabb had a massive stroke and was unconscious in the ICU for a week. The doctors told his wife, Kim, he had a seven-percent survival rate. But Rabb didn’t get the memo.
One week later, Rabb opened his eyes. He had lost partial vision in one, he couldn’t walk, he couldn’t talk, he couldn’t do much of anything, but he was alive.
“I, essentially, had to learn everything all over again. I spent a ton of time in rehab. That was tough for me—a huge role reversal for me—there I was, relying solely on others,” said Rabb.
Rabb says he wouldn’t be where he is today without the love and care from all those who helped him—from the hospital and rehabilitation staff to his wife, Kim, and his caring family. And as of 2017, WCC’s Gunny Quail, Rabb’s service dog—a doting yellow Lab.
“Our relationship has evolved—it’s dynamic, it’s beautiful, it’s centering, it’s fun, it’s sharing, it’s a lot of love, and it’s a lot of learning about each other,” says Rabb. “We explore the world together … it’s nice to have a partner; he helps me, he centers, and he helps ground me.”
Rabb and Quail, who he nicknamed “Gunny,” as a nod to his service in the Marine Corps, graduated as part of Warrior Canine Connection’s class of 2019.
Rabb had met Rick Yount, WCC founder and executive director, many years earlier at the Palo Alto VA, and he reached out all those years later to get involved in WCC’s service dog training program.
The two can be found together just about everywhere. In April, Rabb and Gunny Quail joined other Minnesotans outside in a memorial gathering during George Floyd’s memorial. Many others assembled around them, drawn in at the site of an adorable yellow Lab, who Rabb says brought calm and joy during a dark and tense time.
“He [Gunny] engages … a lot of people who want to pet him—people just want to touch him and connect,” said Rabb. “He creates safe spaces. It offers an opportunity to reach out and really connect with the world.”
Rabb and Gunny Quail can be found together during their daily walks or side-by-side while the Colonel works on his poetry, a hobby for which he’s won several awards. Together, they tackle whatever comes their way.
“Well, with Gunny, what makes things better is that there are no worries,” said Rabb. “We’re in sync. We’re on a mission together.”
Warrior Canine Connection Achieves Accreditation by Assistance Dogs International
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2021
Boyds, Md. – Warrior Canine Connection, a nonprofit dedicated to breeding, training and placing highly skilled service dogs for Service Members and Veterans with visible and hidden wounds, is pleased to announce that it has achieved its 5-year reaccreditation by Assistance Dogs International (ADI). ADI is the leading authority in the Assistance Dogs industry. It establishes and promotes standards of excellence in all areas of assistance dog acquisition, training and partnership.
“Assistance Dogs International is the global authority on assistance dogs, and we are immensely proud to have received the organization’s renewed stamp of approval,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director. “We are proud to breed, train and place highly specialized service dogs with Veterans in need. We are thankful for ADI’s leadership and commitment to ensuring high standards throughout the service dog industry; they are providing a powerful impact on Veterans and many others who benefit from the love, companionship and assistance from service dogs.”
Warrior Canine Connection uses a Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training model that harnesses the healing power of the Warrior Ethos and the human-animal bond to reduce symptoms of combat trauma whereby Warriors with combat stress train the dogs to assist another Veteran with visible and/or invisible wounds. The model provides recovering combat Veterans with a sense of purpose while they are recovering and is designed to remediate their symptoms of combat stress, such as isolation, emotional numbness and re-experiencing. Each dog can positively impact up to 60 Veterans during the training process.
To date, WCC has placed a total of 94 assistance dogs with Warriors and military families. Another cadre of service dogs, WCC’s largest class since its inception, will be paired with their forever Veterans and will graduate together this September.
Once accredited, a program becomes a member of ADI. Member programs must complete a reaccreditation every five years to comply with ADI’s Standards of Practice. ADI accreditation is a peer-review process conducted by a trained ADI assessor over a period of 2-4 days. Currently there are 136 ADI accredited service dog programs in the world.
For more information, please contact Beth Bourgeois, Warrior Canine Connection, at beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org.
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 Assistance Dogs International
Assistance Dogs International (ADI) is a worldwide coalition of non-profit organizations that raise, train and place assistance dogs. The objectives of Assistance Dogs International are to:
●Facilitate communication and learning among member programs
●Educate the public to the benefits of Assistance Dogs and ADI membership.
For more information, visit www.assistancedogsinternational.org.
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.
T-Shirt Artwork Design Contest
HOW TO SUBMIT A DESIGN
Be a part of Warrior Canine Connection graduation history by designing a limited edition t-shirt celebrating the Virtual Graduation Class of 2021! The contest is open to everyone of all ages and the winning designer will receive a FREE t-shirt featuring their artwork and bragging rights.
GUIDELINES
· Design should not exceed three ink colors
· Design for back of t-shirt only
· If submitting a hand drawing, please submit no larger than 8.5 x 11-inch size
· Multiple designs may be submitted
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: JULY 14, 2021
Design submissions can be emailed as an attachment to info@warriorcanineconnection.org. Hand-drawn submissions are accepted and can be scanned in and submitted as an email attachment.
Acceptable submission formats include *.jpg, *.png, *.ai, *.eps. If designed in Illustrator, Photoshop, or other software, we will request original artwork file if selected.
Once the submission date has closed, WCC will select the winning design and announce it on our Facebook page. We also look forward to sharing a gallery of everyone’s submissions this summer.
FINE PRINT
By submitting a design, the designer consents that his/her design is their own original artwork and that he/she has all the necessary rights and permissions to use included elements. Please do not use elements or designs created by someone else. Images that are not submitted in vector format will need to be recreated. Warrior Canine Connection reserves the right to make adjustments and alterations to the winning entry to ensure that the reproduction of the image is the best quality. The winning designer releases all exclusive rights to the artwork to be used for Virtual Graduation 2021 material. The winner will be rewarded with a WCC graduation t-shirt featuring his/her design.
10 Activities You May Not Know That Help with PTSD
June 10, 2021 – More than 350 million war survivors around the globe suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, according to a 2019 report by the European Journal of Psychotraumatology.
And while there are many types of psychotherapy treatments, such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and medication that can help treat PTSD, did you know that caring for bees, taking a swim with dolphins and donning a pair of hockey skates can help as well? Read the full story in the U.S. Veterans Magazine here.
Partner Spotlight: The Patriot Fund—Providing Veterans with the Best Support Possible
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!