You’re staying at home and inside as much as possible — doing your part to help flatten the curve. Looking for some good ways to occupy your time? Look no further! We tapped our Warrior Canine Connection team to share some of their favorite dog and Veteran-inspired book recommendations to help you pass the time. Read lots and be well!
Jennifer Wilder, Director of Development
Recommendation: Made for Each Other by WCC’s own Meg Olmert
“I love Made for Each Other because it was the first book to really dive into the roots of humans’ connection with animals, and the chemistry behind how those bonds are formed. Authored by WCC’s own Meg Olmert, the book really helps explain the science behind what WCC hears all too often—that dogs are good medicine!”
Ann Spader, Service Dog Training Instructor, Denver, Colorado
Recommendation: Merle’s Door – Lessons from a Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote
“So many books I’ve read are geared towards how you can get the most out of a dog and your relationship — it’s often one–sided. This book focuses on how both a person and a dog can learn from each other in a give–and–take relationship. There share a lot of interesting stories and experiences.”
and
Recommendation #2: Tribe by Sebastian Junger
“Obviously working with Veterans, I am always interested in new perspectives about the prevalence of PTSD during modern times. Tribe focuses more on how the community someone is a part of might impact their experiences or how they process those experiences versus just focusing on the person alone. Especially during these times of social isolation and uncertainty of the future, I feel it is more important that we come together as communities or tribes and support each other so that we can all get through this together.”
Tim O’Boyle, Facilities Manager
Recommendation: Chained Eagle: The Heroic Story of the First American Shot Down over North Vietnam by Jr. Everett Alvarez and Anthony S. Pitch
“This is the most amazing book about a prisoner of war. This is not a boring history book — it’s about a hero who became a POW on day two of the war and he shares his story until the time he was released nine years later. Even if you aren’t a history buff, you will still be engaged and amazed. One last thing, this hero lives here in Montgomery County, Maryland.”
Emily McNeal, Service Dog Training Instructor
Recommendation: Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
“I chose this book for the sake of not being serious and needing a little cute comedy, plus, I have the same name as Clifford’s owner, Emily Elizabeth.”
and
Recommendation #2: Ashley’s War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
“This particular story is of a high-charging female soldier who led with honor and mission-first mentality. While she lost her life, her legacy lives on. Side note: I do her CrossFit workout every year and visited her memorial at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington.”
Rick Yount, Executive Director & Founder
Recommendation: “My favorite dog-related pick is “Meg Daley Olmert’s, Made for Each Other, the Biology of the Human Animal Bond. Meg’s book cracked the code and drove the science regarding Oxytocin’s role in the healing power of dogs.’
“My favorite Veteran-related books is Sergeant Back Again by Charles Coleman. It is referred to as, ‘The Vietnam War Novel that made PTSD real.’“
Alison Alford, Development Assistant
Recommendation: A Good Dog by Jon Katz
“I recommend any book by author Jon Katz. He has written multiple dog books, and I’m sure you’ll love any book that you pick up by him! His books are filled with humor, compassion, and a deep respect for our canine companions.”
A few other favorites on Alison’s list include:
Marley & Me by John Grogan
Call of the Wild by Jack London
White Fang by Jack London
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
James Herriot’s Dog Stories
Shelley Smith, Service Dog Training Instructor, Menlo Park, California
Recommendation: Tribe by Sebastian Junger and On Assimilation: A Ranger’s Return from War by Leo Jenkins.
“These two books were really helpful when I first started at giving me context and finding a place to start in the military culture. One more that’s much lighter reading, is Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War by Mary Roach. It’s just fun to reach and give me a chance to be a nerd and learn stuff in an approachable format!”
A Round of A-Paws for WCC Volunteer Karen Chiu
A WCC service dog-in-training, Frank is a one-year-old Golden Retriever — the sixth WCC dog that Karen has helped train. And the sixth to capture her heart.
“There’s just something about dogs…they’re loyal, they always have love for you, they’re always happy to see you and there’s never any judgment with dogs,” says Karen. “They see a human, they love them, and they are always there for them.”
First came Jenny. Then Katie. Then Lisa, who was followed by Greg and then Tommy. And now, of course, Frank, or “Frankie” as Karen calls him.
Like so many of WCC’s volunteers, Karen discovered WCC through the Explore.org puppy cam back in 2015. Shortly after, she found out about its Menlo Park location in California, started volunteering, and has been hooked ever since.
“I love the work that WCC is doing here in Calif., where the dogs are working with Veterans almost daily,” said Karen. “It’s really awesome to hear their stories, even from those who help train the dogs. It’s so awesome to hear how these dogs are changing their lives and see the impact they’re having on them.”
Besides helping to care, feed and train six dogs, Karen’s attached her name to numerous other events to help WCC, including past graduations and fundraising events. All WCC has to do is cite the need, and Karen’s name can be found on the list of those willing to help.
“Karen is a great source of historical dog information and she plays a huge role in supporting the West Coast WCC site,” said Alexis Baker, California Program Manager. “She’s an incredibly experienced puppy parent, and willing to go the extra mile for her dogs in whatever ways they need. She’s also an amazing social media maven and has single–handedly fulfilled our Wishlist twice in the last 12 months. Because of her and her amazing skills, we have access to a lot of supplies for our dogs and veterans to use during training.”
Together, Karen and Frank are continuing their WCC service dog training virtually. Although they attend their weekly classes via computer, Karen senses “Frankie” is missing his in-person interaction with the Veterans with which he regularly works.
“He recognizes people on the calls — his ears perk up when he hears their voices,” says Karen. “He’s such a social fellow, there’s no doubt he’s missing that regular close connection he had with the Veterans.”
Both Karen and Frank hope it’s just a matter of time until they’re able to return to in-person training but, in the meantime, they’re subscribing to their training schedule and enjoy sharing some of their new lessons, at-home adventures and antics on Frank’s Facebook page.
Thank you, Karen, for sharing your time, talents and treasures with WCC!
Stanford student-veterans connect with canines
Stanford student-veterans are continuing their service to others by volunteering to train dogs to be service companions through Warrior Canine Connection.
May 21, 2020 – After serving in America’s armed forces, Stanford’s student-veterans shifted their focus to academia and research. But since arriving on the Farm, some have continued to heed the call to serve with help from some animal companions. Read the complete story in the Stanford News here.
WCC Service Dog-in-Training Scores a Page in a Maryland Middle School Yearbook
Middle school teacher Pat O’Connell, who was a puppy parent to Andrew, meaning she was a volunteer who helped raise, train and care for him for several months, brought him to school every day from September – December 2019.
“The kids took having Andrew in class very seriously,” said Pat. “They understood he was in training and some students already had experience with a service dog. Most did their best to ignore him, others couldn’t help but stare at him because he was so cute.”
A yellow Labrador/Golden Retriever mix, Andrew, like all dogs in WCC’s training program, is being groomed to become a service dog to assist a Veteran who has visible and invisible wounds.
Classes at St. Jude let out in December for the holiday break, and when students came back to school in January, they were sad to learn Andrew was not.
Due to Andrew’s intelligence, eagerness to please and love of training, WCC service dog instructors decided he was best suited to continue his learning at WCC’s Denver, Colorado program location at the Marcus Institute for Brain Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, where he spends his days learning and training with Service Members and Veterans who have traumatic brain injuries (TBI). On-site training has been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic but Andrew and other service dogs at MIBH are still participating in virtual classes online.
Pat says students know Andrew moved on to train for a greater purpose, yet he made such an impact on them in the brief time he was there, that’s why they decided to include him as a highlight in their yearbook.
“Everyone at the school knew of Andrew,” said Pat. “He was in our classroom, could be seen walking up and down the hallways by my side, at recess and at dismissal each day. He was so happy, well-mannered and lovable, and he managed to reach the hearts of everyone he met.”
ISI Demolition Helps Warrior Canine Connection Remove Barriers for Barn Renovation Project
This month, Warrior Canine Connection came 4,000 tons closer to its large barn renovation project taking shape. The centerpiece of its headquarters, the iconic Schaeffer Farm dairy barn, is getting a major overhaul to transform the 1930s-era structure into a new facility needed to breed, train and place future service dogs.
As scenic as the farm is, there were many tons of concrete that had been dumped on the property over the years, as well as concrete pads that flanked older buildings no longer standing. In order to upgrade the utilities, install proper storm water runoff and adjust the grade of the land around the barn, most of the concrete had to go. The debris was not only unsightly, it also presented a major obstacle to the barn renovation, that is, until ISI Demolition got involved.
Based out of White Marsh, Maryland, ISI Demolition has been overseeing demolition projects for 29 years. After finding out about WCC’s needs following the February tornado, ISI graciously offered its services to WCC pro-bono.
“We knew there was a tremendous amount of concrete that had to be removed for the barn renovation project to continue on,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “Quite frankly, we were concerned about the cost to get this work done and how that would impact our construction efforts. In two short weeks, the ISI team did amazing work and removed a huge barrier that has enabled us to move on to the next phase in the barn renovation process. Thank you, ISI!”
Not only did the ISI team demo 4,290 tons of concrete, but they also crushed it into gravel so it can be repurposed for some grading projects around the barn and under the floor of the soon-to-be new kennel space.
“Our organization is honored to partner with Warrior Canine Connection,” said Dino Trombetta, president, ISI Demolition. “It gives us great pride to serve those who serve our country by supporting WCC’s mission and goals. Anytime we can offer our services to such a noble organization, we will.”
In all, the ISI team spent 153 hours on-site at WCC, spanning two weeks. With two hard-working operators, they processed a total of 4,290 tons of concrete and mobilized three pieces of equipment, along with the crusher, to complete the project.
“We were privileged to offer our services and pleased to leave a product onsite that will be reused for the new Warrior Canine Connection Headquarters,” said Jake Stocksdale, project manager, ISI Demolition. “It was a pleasure working with WCC and lend a helping hand to those who help our service veterans.”
Over the past year, WCC has completed some modest renovations, including the restoration of the gables on both ends of the barn. Now, with the concrete removed, more extensive site preparation and infrastructure work can begin. Final layout plans are in progress and WCC anticipates that permitting will soon be underway. The entire project has been a collaborative one, with WCC getting much-needed assistance from Montgomery County, the State of Maryland, and incredible corporate friends, like ISI, who have generously shared their valuable expertise, time and manpower.
DAV Charitable Trust Helping Veterans Heal Through Support of WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery Training Program
Doug Arbon and his family can’t say enough about how much they’ve enjoyed participating in Warrior Canine Connection’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training program.
The MBTR training program is unique in that it enlists Service Members and Veterans in recovery to help train service dogs for a fellow Warrior. Those involved in the training benefit from the process along the way, including improved communication skills, improved self-esteem and lower anxiety.
This summer, Doug will medically retire from the Army, a career in which he says he’s been honored to serve in for 15 years active duty and five years as a Reservist. He started his career in the Naval Reserves, then he enlisted in the Army and a few years later he was commissioned as an Officer in the Army. He spent most of his career as a military intelligence officer, so he can’t share many details about the who, what, where or when of his service.
Aside from concerns about life post-military, Doug and his family are also grappling with larger health issues. Both Doug and his son have undergone surgeries for cancer due to a shared rare genetic mutation called SDHB. Doug has also finished radiation treatment for additional cancerous tumors that have grown since his initial surgery. His daughter also wrestles with serious health issues, including debilitating migraines. But Doug says being around the WCC service dogs in training has been a most welcome distraction.
“Since we started the program, we noticed a huge difference when we’re around the dogs,” says Doug. “Just being around them changes our outlook. We feel like we’re giving back a little bit and it really helps to know we’re helping to train these amazing dogs that will go on to serve Veterans and their family members who really deserve them.”
Warrior Canine Connection’s MBTR program is funded, in part, by Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust. The Trust recently provided WCC with a $150,000 grant to support MBTR; this latest grant to WCC brings The Trust’s total support to $350,000 over the past four years.
“We are so thankful to DAV Charitable Trust’s continued support for our programs,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “They have been an amazing partner — not just founded on financial support, but a shared philosophy when it comes to improving the lives of our nation’s Veterans.”
The Trust was established for the single purpose of empowering Veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. As part of that mission, the Trust ensures charitable initiatives around the country have the resources they need to benefit our nation’s heroes. That includes programs that provide service dogs to Veterans, including Warrior Canine Connection.
The Arbon family is hoping that once responsible to do so, that they can return to WCC to continue training service dogs for their future placement with fellow Warriors.
“WCC’s program is helping so many Service Members and Veterans, me included,” said Doug. “We’d go back in a heartbeat — we were going once a week and we’ve seen a loss without that connection already. Just being around those dogs has really made a huge impact on our family. There’s a little bit more happiness, a little bit more peace in the family after we see these dogs and have that experience.”
Thank you, DAV Charitable Trust, for your continued support of WCC and our nation’s Veterans. Visit https://cst.dav.org/ to learn more.
Great Quarantine Reads, Recommended by WCC Staff
Jennifer Wilder, Director of Development
Recommendation: Made for Each Other by WCC’s own Meg Olmert
“I love Made for Each Other because it was the first book to really dive into the roots of humans’ connection with animals, and the chemistry behind how those bonds are formed. Authored by WCC’s own Meg Olmert, the book really helps explain the science behind what WCC hears all too often—that dogs are good medicine!”
Ann Spader, Service Dog Training Instructor, Denver, Colorado
Recommendation: Merle’s Door – Lessons from a Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote
“So many books I’ve read are geared towards how you can get the most out of a dog and your relationship — it’s often one–sided. This book focuses on how both a person and a dog can learn from each other in a give–and–take relationship. There share a lot of interesting stories and experiences.”
and
Recommendation #2: Tribe by Sebastian Junger
“Obviously working with Veterans, I am always interested in new perspectives about the prevalence of PTSD during modern times. Tribe focuses more on how the community someone is a part of might impact their experiences or how they process those experiences versus just focusing on the person alone. Especially during these times of social isolation and uncertainty of the future, I feel it is more important that we come together as communities or tribes and support each other so that we can all get through this together.”
Tim O’Boyle, Facilities Manager
Recommendation: Chained Eagle: The Heroic Story of the First American Shot Down over North Vietnam by Jr. Everett Alvarez and Anthony S. Pitch
“This is the most amazing book about a prisoner of war. This is not a boring history book — it’s about a hero who became a POW on day two of the war and he shares his story until the time he was released nine years later. Even if you aren’t a history buff, you will still be engaged and amazed. One last thing, this hero lives here in Montgomery County, Maryland.”
Emily McNeal, Service Dog Training Instructor
Recommendation: Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
“I chose this book for the sake of not being serious and needing a little cute comedy, plus, I have the same name as Clifford’s owner, Emily Elizabeth.”
and
Recommendation #2: Ashley’s War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
“This particular story is of a high-charging female soldier who led with honor and mission-first mentality. While she lost her life, her legacy lives on. Side note: I do her CrossFit workout every year and visited her memorial at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington.”
Rick Yount, Executive Director & Founder
Recommendation: “My favorite dog-related pick is “Meg Daley Olmert’s, Made for Each Other, the Biology of the Human Animal Bond. Meg’s book cracked the code and drove the science regarding Oxytocin’s role in the healing power of dogs.’
“My favorite Veteran-related books is Sergeant Back Again by Charles Coleman. It is referred to as, ‘The Vietnam War Novel that made PTSD real.’“
Alison Alford, Development Assistant
Recommendation: A Good Dog by Jon Katz
“I recommend any book by author Jon Katz. He has written multiple dog books, and I’m sure you’ll love any book that you pick up by him! His books are filled with humor, compassion, and a deep respect for our canine companions.”
A few other favorites on Alison’s list include:
Marley & Me by John Grogan
Call of the Wild by Jack London
White Fang by Jack London
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
James Herriot’s Dog Stories
Shelley Smith, Service Dog Training Instructor, Menlo Park, California
Recommendation: Tribe by Sebastian Junger and On Assimilation: A Ranger’s Return from War by Leo Jenkins.
“These two books were really helpful when I first started at giving me context and finding a place to start in the military culture. One more that’s much lighter reading, is Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War by Mary Roach. It’s just fun to reach and give me a chance to be a nerd and learn stuff in an approachable format!”
A Letter from Mike
AGC has been an amazing partner to WCC and its program for years, including its sponsorship of the WCC barn renovation project. Once completed, the historic dairy barn will provide much-needed space for WCC to provide its Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training program to Service Members and Veterans, as well as critical facilities needed to breed, train and pair future service dogs.
In the article, which Mike II wrote himself, he shares his thanks to AGC for its continued support of WCC and how honored he is to be named after the late Mike Timura, who was not only an Army Air Corps Veteran but a longstanding member of AGC. You can read it for yourself, here.
To Our Volunteers… Thank you!
April marks National Volunteer Month. And while all WCC volunteer programs and events have been suspended due to COVID-19 to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our dedicated supporters and our team members, we still want to say a heartfelt thank you to all of you who have dedicated your time, talents and treasures to our organization.
We have so many volunteers who make such a significant investment in our organization each year. These numbers are nothing short of amazing! We are truly humbled and honored by all of you. Here’s a snapshot of the impact volunteers had on WCC and its programs in 2019.
● Total Volunteer Hours: 61,449
● Total Unique Volunteers: 1,022
● Total Veteran Volunteer Hours: 981
● Total Military Family Volunteer Hours: 4172
● Cost savings to WCC: $1,562,648.00
As Sarah Olson, WCC volunteer coordinator will tell you, whenever WCC makes an ask, many volunteers jump at the call.
“If we ever have an immediate need, whether it’s to fill a volunteer shift or it’s to transport puppies and dogs, last-minute calls to make bland diet, we always have such a tremendous response, it’s overwhelming,” said Olson. “People are ready to jump in for anything we need them to do — from the small stuff to the big stuff. It’s incredibly humbling to know we have that many supporters who are willing to do whatever it takes to help dedicate time to our mission.”
A prime example was WCC’s Community Clean-up Day, which took place at the end of February. The event was pulled together quickly following a tornado that touched down earlier in the month and caused significant damage to several structures at WCC’s Healing Quarters. Registration for volunteers went live online and, within hours, dozens of volunteers had registered to help. More than 100 volunteers spent 545 hours that single afternoon helping to clean-up, repair and transforms WCC’s grounds.
We know our volunteers could chose to support any organization, and we sincerely appreciate that you continue to choose WCC. Your unwavering support and dedication to our mission are helping to make a difference in the lives of our nation’s heroes, thank you.
Why are our volunteers so engaged? Each volunteer has their own reason.
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Virtual Classes New Norm for WCC
Veterans whose Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) programming was interrupted by the current global crisis are receiving weekly emails from WCC with resources and instructional videos. The content focuses on training skills, canine behavior and theories of learning, and other foundational training techniques.
Warrior Canine Connection is hopeful that the virtual social engagement, content and consistency of programming will allow Veteran participants to make even greater contributions to the dogs’ advancement, as well as their own personal progress. Right now, the goal is to keep as many Warriors involved in MBTR programming as possible to ensure they have the critically important Warrior Canine “Connections” that research shows reduce stress and isolation.
“This is a new design for all of us at WCC, so we’re learning as we go in an attempt to serve our Veterans, and ensure they continue seeing the benefits of MBTR, albeit virtually,” said Emily McNeal. “The challenge is a fun one as we work to create new content and educational pieces!”
And so far, it’s working well.
In addition to the Veterans and Service Members, it’s also crucial to keep the service dogs in training on regular training schedules. Those currently in the training pipeline and participating in MBTR will go on to be placed with Service Members and Veterans with visible and invisible wounds, once it’s responsible to do so.
Puppy Parents, volunteers who raise WCC’s service dogs in training for up to two years, also have new online programming dedicated to helping them keep future service dogs on-track. Although they typically come to WCC’s program sites once a week for classes, they’re now logging on to their computers and phones to take a class. So far, puppy parents in Boyds, Maryland; Denver, Colorado; Menlo Park, California and Asheville, North Carolina are participating in the online classes.
Service Dog Training Program Manager Kevin Simpson, who leads WCC’s service dog training program, says, “The ability to continue with group classes is helping restore a sense of normalcy for us all — if even only a little bit. And although face-to-face training is preferred, it is nice to see the teams working together in their home environments, too. Everyone appears relaxed with the online support and the training instructors are still able to provide immediate feedback as the puppy parents practice skills — it’s working.”
In these extraordinary times, we’re fortunate to have not only have each other but also extraordinary technology to help see us through.
Love at First Click
“There were these six puppies and this mom, and she was so good with these puppies,” said Stacey. “They just made me smile… I wasn’t even petting them or holding them but the next day, I had to get back on that camera, I don’t know why, but I had to see the puppies.”
That was Holly’s Half Dozen, Warrior Canine Connection’s second-ever litter of pups back in 2012. (Rain’s Patriotic Pups Litter was the first.)
At the time, Stacey, her husband and their two sons had just moved from Detroit, Michigan to Green Bay, Wisconsin. Although the move was made for cleaner air, wider spaces and a better quality of life, with no friends or family locally, Stacey felt like her walls were closing in around her. She never thought — not for one second — that she would find solace in a website full of puppies.
“It was the best click on a computer that I have ever made in my life,” says Stacey. “It has opened up so much for me in the way of friendships, happiness and support when I lost my own pup. It’s just knowing that these pups are going on for greater things to help the Warriors who have defended our country, our way of life.”
While she says the mission and puppies, of course, are what drew her in, she found much more than that on the site.
“At first, I just watched and read the chat thread on the site,” says Stacey. “Someone made a comment, I can’t remember what it was, but I posted… and it was the beginning of some really good friendships. I found myself sharing on the site and talking with people who helped me through some really tough times.”
But it’s not only the friendships, Stacey also credits the site for helping to deepen her relationship with her own sons. Both of her boys have ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome, so finding things that hold their interest and that they enjoy is challenging.
“When they were younger, the kids would watch and count the pups in the litter, call out each of their names by their colors,” said Stacey. “And when they learned that each dog was named after actual people, they became really hooked and would read all of the name announcements.”
She adds with a laugh, “My son could tell me the names of each of the litters, but could he clean his room? No.”
Life has changed a lot since then. The boys are grown and are preoccupied with other interests. Stacey has a full-time job supporting a trucking service, which has become very busy with the current demand on our trucking and shipping industry due to COVID-19.
Stacey still routinely tunes into the puppy cam and chats with her fellow Extreme Puppy Watchers (EPWs), a tight-knit group of people who follow the WCC puppy cam. She says she hopes to one day make it to a WCC graduation and meet Molly Morelli, WCC’s director of dog programs.
She says “I will always be in debt to Rick and Molly for allowing us into their living room and their lives. From that one webcam, a blue bear bed, and a whole lot of wonderful people, WCC is something VERY special to me.”