If you follow each of WCC’s namesake announcements, you know that each one has its own unique and remarkable story. All of us here on the WCC team are continually moved to learn about each Veteran and the way his or her family and friends recount the impact they have had on those they knew, as well as our great country.
This month, we’re sharing one of those remarkable stories: Navy Chief Petty Officer David Michael Collins, Ret. You likely know his namesake as service dog in training “Collins”; he was named in memory of Dave, who lost his life to his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and yet to be diagnosed chronic traumatic encephalopathy in 2014.
Just recently, over Thanksgiving, Dave’s wife, Jennifer, and their two children, Grace, 14, and Sam, 11, had the opportunity to meet Collins. In fact, WCC puppy parent and volunteer extraordinaire Patrick Siemon and Collins drove to Pennsylvania to meet the family while they were in town for the holiday.
“Meeting Collins was so much fun because we’ve seen pictures and we’re such a dog family, so to be able to hug on him, play with him and give him kisses was fabulous,” said Jennifer. “And meeting Patrick was just as incredible because he’s doing all the hard work to turn this dog into someone who’s going to carry on my husband’s legacy — he’s just a very special human being.”
We agree — special indeed. Although Patrick insists the pleasure was all his.
“CPO Collins is a truly amazing hero who has done so much for our country,” said Patrick. “There were so many special moments during Collins’ meeting with his namesake’s family and being able to show CPO Collins’ son Sam how to train Collins was truly remarkable. I hope that Collins brings CPO Collins’ family, friends and fellow Warriors much comfort through his work helping Veterans and sharing his story,” Patrick shared.
In addition to Jennifer, Grace and Sam, their entire family and even Jennifer’s best friend from childhood and her children all came for the coveted Collins meet ‘n greet.
“I know I can speak for the kids when I say that, when you lose your husband or your dad like that, any physical embodiment of him is joyful,” said Jennifer. “And so, Collins might be furry and four-legged, but he still carries Dave’s spirit in him, so for us to be part of his story is really a special honor for us.”
Jennifer says dogs have always played a huge role in Dave’s life. In fact, her letter to WCC accepting the WCC namesake nomination recounts the role a very special dog named Brian played in getting Dave home from work in Afghanistan.
Alyssa,
I truly cannot thank you and your supporters enough for this honor! In addition to being an appropriate legacy for a man who lost his battle with TBI/PTS because the treatment and the answers just weren’t there for us, I want to tell you a story of why a dog is important.
Dave was retired and working as a contractor. In the summer of 2013, he was sent to Afghanistan, not technically his job but they needed him, for a 4-month rotation. He really, really didn’t want to go and these were some of the signs of his struggle. While there, we were able to FaceTime with him. Our dog Murphy had died about a year earlier, and Dave had started telling us about this stray dog there that reminded him of Murphy. It got to the point where he’d FaceTime with us to show us the dog, named Brian. Brian even slept in Dave’s room on his bed — definitely not something that Dave would typically allow.
Toward the end of the trip, Dave made plans for an organization called Nowzad to get Brian home to us. Dave returned in late September, and Brian arrived in early November. When Dave returned home, that is when I really noticed something was wrong. His spiral downward was quick and by March, he was dead, having found no doctor or program or facility that could provide him with any relief.
Alyssa, I truly believe that Brian got Dave home to us. Brian was a connection to us, a bit of humanity in an otherwise difficult place. I know Dave struggled for far longer than those last intense few months and I’m sure the trip to Afghanistan made things worse. We could have lost him to those demons over there. But a dog loved him, kept him company, reminded him of home and eventually got him home safely to our love.
So, a service dog for another veteran in need is so much more appropriate than you know.
Thank you again for giving us this opportunity and for honoring Dave in this manner.
Sincerely,
Jennifer
Of course, now that the family has met Collins, Jennifer said Sam has asked multiple times whether they can “adopt him.” Jennifer explained that Collins is training for a much more important purpose but did share that if he were to choose a different career path, they’d love to be at the top of the list for his placement.
Warrior Canine Connection Receives $30,000 from Maryland Veterans Service Animal Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2020
BOYDS, Md. – Warrior Canine Connection recently received $30,000 in funding from the Maryland Veterans Service Animal Program to help support the placement of service dogs with Veterans with visible and invisible wounds in Maryland.
The Maryland Veterans Service Animal Program was passed in 2017 and is part of the state’s Department of Veterans Affairs. The program, which helps to educate the community about therapy and service dog programs and provide funding for the placement of those dogs with Veterans, was passed through the legislature with the entire Senate co-sponsoring the law.
“We are beyond thrilled to not only receive this funding, which will go a long way to support our program to help Veterans but also by the commitment, cooperation and support from our legislators, who helped make this program a reality,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “It’s no secret that service dogs are an amazing tool to help in the Veteran recovery process and by making them more available, together, we can help serve more of our nation’s heroes.”
Trained service dogs can console and are able to bring out even the most isolated personality. Service dogs have also been found to reduce the hypervigilance that has been found to be common in Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as depression and anxiety.
Of course, the Maryland Veterans Service Animals Program wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the state’s Department of Veterans Affairs.
“We are pleased to partner with Warrior Canine Connection and to support the training of service dogs for our veterans,” said George Owings, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs. “For our veterans who have honorably served in the military and who have also given so much to our state and nation, this is but one way we can give back.”
Senator Simonaire, the son of a Veteran, sponsored the bill to provide help to Veterans in a unique and special way.
“There are many issues facing our veteran population, and the work that Warrior Canine is doing is making a difference,” said Senator Simonaire. “I am thankful for the partnership we have created with non-profits to provide more services, especially through these wonderful and adorable dogs.”
Simonaire was first elected to the Maryland State Senate in 2006 to represent District 31, which is a part of Northern Anne Arundel County.
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.
Handpicked by WCC: Dog Quotes We Love
There’s no shortage of ways to talk about how much we adore our dogs. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, the WCC team put together a list of quotes that we love about our four-legged friends.
Quotes We Love
Emily M., Service Dog Training Instructor
“You can always find hope in a dog’s eyes.”
– Unknown
Beth B., Media Relations Officer
“Everyone thinks they have the best dog. And none of them are wrong.”
– W.R. Purche
Tim O., Facilities Assistant
“All his life he tried to be a good person. Many times, however, he failed. For, after all, he was only human. He wasn’t a dog.”
– Charles M. Schulz
Sydney F., Service Dog Training Instructor
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”
– Roger Caras
Alyssa M., Social Media Specialist
“Be the kind of person your dog thinks you are.”
– Unknown
Rick Y., Founder and Executive Director
“Happiness is a warm puppy.”
– Charles M. Schulz
Jennifer W., Director of Development
“Sometimes the best medicine has four legs and a wet nose.”
– Huff, WCC Service Dog
Emily F., Service Dog Training Instructor
“Everything I need to know I learned from my dog.”
– Richard Smith
Jeff H., Director of Operations
“Be alert as you watch a dog at play or at rest. Let the animal teach you to feel at home in the now, to celebrate life by being completely present. You just watch the tail … with some dogs you just look at them – just a little look is enough – and their tail goes …’ Life is good! Life is good!’ And they are not telling themselves a story of why life is good. It’s a direct realization.”
– Eckhart Tolle
Cheryl B., Puppy Parent Program Manager and Trainer
“Among the things in my life that I thank God for the most, is the love He gave me for animals. My heart would be emptier, and life would be less without them.”
– Unknown
Kevin S., Service Dog Training Instructor
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
– James 1:17
Sam H., Service Dog Training Instructor
“Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made.”
– Roger A. Caras
Katie G., Client Liaison
“In life, it’s not where you go – it’s who goes with you.”
– Snoopy
Allison P., External Relations Manager
“I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source.”
– Doris Day
Don’t see your favorite dog quote listed? Share yours with us on our Facebook page at @warriorcanineconnection!
Robin Martin: A Pawsitively Outstanding WCC Volunteer
Currently, Robin is puppy parent to WCC service dogs in training, Manion and Mike II. She and husband, Kent, live in Cleveland, South Carolina, which is roughly an hour away from Asheville, North Carolina; that’s where WCC runs a service dog training program in conjunction with the Buncombe County Veterans Treatment Court (VTC). It’s a program Robin says resonates with her in more ways than one.
“It’s the mission — the whole Veteran mission,” says Robin. “My Dad was a Veteran and he served three tours in Vietnam. I was an Army nurse and served at the old Water Reed. It’s something I believe in; I’ve seen what these dogs can do. I love every second of it, every minute of it — right down to every piece of dog hair in the house.”
The Buncombe County VTC program included WCC’s service dog training in its programming in 2018. Since then, it has become one of the most popular programs among the Veterans involved — a program that Robin has played a huge part in. In fact, WCC Service Dog Training Instructor Amy Guidash says Robin’s help has made it possible for WCC to take on several additional Veterans groups that are now participating in WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training program, including the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville and FIRST at Blue Ridge, a residential therapeutic community for individuals and Veterans with substance abuse disorders.
“Robin is a strong handler who takes on some of the more challenging dogs on purpose,” said Amy Guidash. “Her consistency is what we know to be really helpful. She wants the dogs to succeed, and she’ll be the first one to say, ‘hey, you know this dog isn’t a pet, right?’ She is 100-percent dedicated to fulfilling the standards WCC upholds. Robin can be direct, yet is open, confident and friendly at the same time, which allows for great communication with the Veterans. She is an absolute joy to be around, and we’re just so thankful that she’s part of the Asheville program.”
Robin got involved with WCC while working for The Home Depot, where she spent 20 years as a District Service Manager. In fact, it was Alice Belthoff, whose name you may recognize as an Extreme Puppy Watcher (EPW) and a dedicated WCC volunteer, who first connected with Robin back in 2012; she sent a letter to The Home Depot requesting some assistance for the old WCC property in Brookeville. The note was forwarded to Robin from the local store manager, and shortly after, she went out to the old WCC headquarters, where she met Rick (Founder of WCC) and Molly (WCC Director of Dog Programs) for the first time.
“While I was there visiting, Molly put a puppy in my arms and it was game over,” said Robin. “I filled out an application right away, completed the required training and was a puppy parent before long. The Home Depot was great and helped provide all of the materials and manpower to convert the garage at the old Brookeville headquarters into WCC’s first Puppy Enrichment Center, and I’ve been hooked ever since.”
So hooked that Robin and Kent, who have both since retired and had planned to move to from Maryland to South Carolina to slow down and leave the bustle of D.C., actually postponed their move until they knew the WCC program at the VTC in Buncombe County, N.C. was up and running, so as not to miss a beat.
First, there was Flurry, then Tommy, followed by Calli, and now Manion and Mike II, no matter how many dogs pass through her doors, Robin says each one leaves its own impact.
“[Said through tears] A little piece of your heart goes every time you pass that leash,” says Robin. “There’s no way you can raise these dogs for 18 months to two years and not become attached, because they don’t trust you if you don’t love them, so you have to love them to get them to do what you want them to do. And it’s so worth it seeing them go on to help our Veterans.”
While the dogs go on to serve a bigger purpose, Robin says one thing she finds unchanged is the friendships and connections she’s built through WCC.
“I have four children and four grandchildren but the EPW community has expanded my family,” said Robin. “We have such a network of support… my mother’s in a nursing home, and on my tough days, I can reach out to any single EPW and they are there to support us — just like we are for all of them. It’s such a special community; I have life-long friends now and people I go on vacation with, and it all dates to the first “paw-ty” in Brookeville.”
Please join us in giving Robin a round of “a-paws” for her unwavering commitment, dedication and support of WCC’s programs, the Veterans it serves and all the people she’s touched along the way.
Veteran Spotlight: Kody & Derek
Five years later, and Kody says he can’t imagine his life without black Lab and Warrior Canine Connection service dog Derek.
“It’s a different experience for everyone, and for me, it took some time to bond with Derek,” said Kody. “It wasn’t immediate but, slowly yet surely, he got me doing things and learning about things I wouldn’t do before I got him. He’s made such a big difference in my life and my relationships that I have with other people. Now, I never want him to be away from me.”
Kody, who served in the Air National Guard for 14 years, served two deployments — the first in Iraq in 2009 and a second in Afghanistan in 2012. During the second deployment, Kody was part of a special 10-man agricultural team tasked with teaching sustainability best practices to the local villagers in Logar and Wardak Provinces. It was during a mission in Logar Province that Kody was wounded in a mortar round blast and sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Quatie was informed of the blast and Kody’s injuries, but it wasn’t until he got home from Afghanistan that she could tell that things weren’t right; he experienced debilitating migraines, nightmares and flashbacks, all of which were impacting his ability to work, sleep and function.
Shortly after, Kody went to the National Intrepid Center of Excellence in Bethesda for treatment. It was there that Kody participated in WCC’s service dog training program. Quatie said she could see a change in him when he interacted with the dogs, and that’s when she urged him to consider getting a service dog for himself. Although resistant at first, Kody filled out an application with WCC.
“Before Derek came along, it got to the point where Kody was pretty paranoid and was scared to leave the house,” said Quatie. “When I left for work, he would shut all the blinds and lock the door — going out to dinner or to church was pretty nonexistent. Derek has been phenomenal, he’s helped Kody more than any medication ever has, it’s been incredible.”
Since being matched with Derek five years ago, Kody has gone on to finish his Master’s in Animal Science at Oklahoma State — a pursuit he abandoned years before due to his daily battle with PTSD and TBI.
More recently, the duo has traveled with nonprofit Samaritan’s Purse to help with disaster relief efforts, where Kody says Derek is always a big hit.
“Even though he’s my service dog, he helps other Veterans in the process of working these events,” said Kody. “You can see the joy on their faces when they get to interact with him. Everyone enjoys getting to play with Derek and hug on him when we have some downtime.”
And Derek has impacted the entire family in a way they never imagined.
“We got to meet the real Derek’s [namesake] Mom,” said Quatie. “It was so phenomenal to meet her and just hear more about her son’s life. It gives us an opportunity to continue to say his name and talk about the special person Derek was named after — it’s just incredibly special to us.”
When asked to describe the impact Derek has had on Kody, he simply replies, “He’s like a kid and a spouse merged into one; I never go anywhere without him.”
Quatie adds, “We love having him [Derek] in our home. It’s amazing to see Kody and the progress he’s made with Derek in his life; there’s no way he would be where he’s at today without a service dog. It’s been a real healing journey and has made him a better husband and dad.”
Our Year in Numbers – 2019
Happy New Year! Before we get too far into 2020, I’d like to take a moment to celebrate Warrior Canine Connection’s achievements with you. Every year we experience growth and 2019 was no exception! We saw expansion in our programs, including reaching more Warriors through Mission Based Trauma Recovery sessions, breeding and even our own team.
This past year, WCC welcomed 9 litters of puppies and 50 new service dogs in training into our program. We provided 3,637 hours of MBTR programming and served 804 unique Service Members, Veterans and their families.
With the start of a new year and new decade, 2020 promises to be another year full of opportunities and exciting challenges. I know WCC will meet each day with determination and a commitment to serve more Veterans. Thank you for your continued support, dedication and another unforgettable year. You have helped us get to where we are, and we could not have accomplished what we did in 2019 without you.
Tenor Anthony Kearns Headlined ‘Fourth Annual Holiday Cocktails And Songs Of The Season’ In Washington, D.C.
January 3, 2020 – On Thursday night before Christmas 2019, the Phoenix Hotel in downtown Washington DC was the scene of the “Fourth Annual Holiday Cocktails and Songs of the Season” celebration, featuring international celebrity tenor, Anthony Kearns.
White House Correspondent Kevin Corke was Master of Ceremonies for this inspiring evening that took place in the shadow of the nation’s Capitol building. The highlighted charity this year was the Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) — and the guests of honor included World War II veterans of Operation Overlord, the Normandy invasion of 1944. Read the complete story here.
Operation Overlord Litter names puppies after World War II vets
December 19, 2019 – Is there anything better than puppies? How about puppies named in honor of World War II veterans? That’s the idea behind Operation Overlord Litter courtesy of Warrior Canine Connection. Watch the complete story on Fox5 here.
2019 #GivingTuesday Update
If you’re not familiar with it, GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past seven years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate and celebrate generosity.
Out of the thousands of nonprofit organizations participating in the GlobalGiving fundraising campaign, WCC placed third of all charities around the globe. Not only that, WCC was the most successful of all animal-related organizations that participated in the campaign and was the only organization that serves Veterans to finish in the top-200.
Our work is far from done. Today, more than 500,000 Veterans are suffering from the invisible wounds of war, and WCC’s unique form of animal-assisted therapy and placement of highly trained service dogs is proven to help Veterans in need. Help us assist our nation’s recovering Warriors by donating now.
Thank you to all of you for your support!
What’s in a Name? Everything.
This month, we’re sharing one of those remarkable stories: Navy Chief Petty Officer David Michael Collins, Ret. You likely know his namesake as service dog in training “Collins”; he was named in memory of Dave, who lost his life to his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and yet to be diagnosed chronic traumatic encephalopathy in 2014.
Just recently, over Thanksgiving, Dave’s wife, Jennifer, and their two children, Grace, 14, and Sam, 11, had the opportunity to meet Collins. In fact, WCC puppy parent and volunteer extraordinaire Patrick Siemon and Collins drove to Pennsylvania to meet the family while they were in town for the holiday.
“Meeting Collins was so much fun because we’ve seen pictures and we’re such a dog family, so to be able to hug on him, play with him and give him kisses was fabulous,” said Jennifer. “And meeting Patrick was just as incredible because he’s doing all the hard work to turn this dog into someone who’s going to carry on my husband’s legacy — he’s just a very special human being.”
We agree — special indeed. Although Patrick insists the pleasure was all his.
“CPO Collins is a truly amazing hero who has done so much for our country,” said Patrick. “There were so many special moments during Collins’ meeting with his namesake’s family and being able to show CPO Collins’ son Sam how to train Collins was truly remarkable. I hope that Collins brings CPO Collins’ family, friends and fellow Warriors much comfort through his work helping Veterans and sharing his story,” Patrick shared.
In addition to Jennifer, Grace and Sam, their entire family and even Jennifer’s best friend from childhood and her children all came for the coveted Collins meet ‘n greet.
“I know I can speak for the kids when I say that, when you lose your husband or your dad like that, any physical embodiment of him is joyful,” said Jennifer. “And so, Collins might be furry and four-legged, but he still carries Dave’s spirit in him, so for us to be part of his story is really a special honor for us.”
Jennifer says dogs have always played a huge role in Dave’s life. In fact, her letter to WCC accepting the WCC namesake nomination recounts the role a very special dog named Brian played in getting Dave home from work in Afghanistan.
Alyssa,
I truly cannot thank you and your supporters enough for this honor! In addition to being an appropriate legacy for a man who lost his battle with TBI/PTS because the treatment and the answers just weren’t there for us, I want to tell you a story of why a dog is important.
Dave was retired and working as a contractor. In the summer of 2013, he was sent to Afghanistan, not technically his job but they needed him, for a 4-month rotation. He really, really didn’t want to go and these were some of the signs of his struggle. While there, we were able to FaceTime with him. Our dog Murphy had died about a year earlier, and Dave had started telling us about this stray dog there that reminded him of Murphy. It got to the point where he’d FaceTime with us to show us the dog, named Brian. Brian even slept in Dave’s room on his bed — definitely not something that Dave would typically allow.
Toward the end of the trip, Dave made plans for an organization called Nowzad to get Brian home to us. Dave returned in late September, and Brian arrived in early November. When Dave returned home, that is when I really noticed something was wrong. His spiral downward was quick and by March, he was dead, having found no doctor or program or facility that could provide him with any relief.
Alyssa, I truly believe that Brian got Dave home to us. Brian was a connection to us, a bit of humanity in an otherwise difficult place. I know Dave struggled for far longer than those last intense few months and I’m sure the trip to Afghanistan made things worse. We could have lost him to those demons over there. But a dog loved him, kept him company, reminded him of home and eventually got him home safely to our love.
So, a service dog for another veteran in need is so much more appropriate than you know.
Thank you again for giving us this opportunity and for honoring Dave in this manner.
Sincerely,
Jennifer
Of course, now that the family has met Collins, Jennifer said Sam has asked multiple times whether they can “adopt him.” Jennifer explained that Collins is training for a much more important purpose but did share that if he were to choose a different career path, they’d love to be at the top of the list for his placement.
Saving Grace: The Canine Connection in Uganda
The efficacy of MBTR in reducing the symptoms of combat trauma did not go unnoticed by medical and research leadership at Walter Reed and the Uniformed Services University (USU). Our research colleagues at USU received federal funding to conduct a pilot study of our MBTR program. I am now finalizing my contributions to the research paper on that pilot study that found a reduction in PTSD symptoms after just six one-hour MBTR sessions. Four other recently published studies showed a significant reduction of PTS after service dog training, supporting the concept of the “Trojan Dog Effect” and suggesting how it might be best engaged.
In 2017, I got a call from Sarah Schmidt, the founder and president of The BIG FIX Uganda—a non-profit, based in Port Townsend, Washington that operates the only veterinarian hospital in Northern Uganda. Since 2012, BIG FIX has provided its services, 365 days a year, in its quest to ease the suffering of animals in Northern Uganda and eradicate the deadly threat of rabies. The BIG FIX animal hospital is in Gulu, the birthplace of Joseph Kony, the warlord who kidnapped 30,000 boys and girls and forced them into killing or sex slavery—or both. Those who made it out of the bush returned to their villages, where they were reviled and shunned as murderers or whores. Children born of rape are rejected as “Kony’s kids.” Sexual violence has left many with HIV. On average, 10 people in the Gulu district commit suicide monthly, with another three suicide attempts per week.
The fate of dogs in Northern Uganda is also grim. Everyone has them, but these dogs are not pets. They provide essential home security—especially when you don’t have a front door–and valuable hunting partners. Despite their service, they are often neglected, abused, and murdered. This emotional disconnect is fueled by the very real fear of rabies and the horror of a war that left many human survivors equally reviled and abused.
In 2015, The BIG FIX realized they had to expand their daunting mission to an even greater one—rescuing the traumatized people of Northern Uganda, as well. They created The Comfort Dog Project—an animal-assisted therapy much like Warrior Canine Connection—except it’s for people who have never imagined a canine connection! This radical idea was inspired by community psychologist, Francis Okello Oloya. Francis was blinded at age 12 during the war and miraculously survived against all odds. While at boarding school, two local dogs were attracted to him. Amazingly, each night when those dogs heard the tapping of his cane, they would come and guide him to the latrine. Not only did this mean he didn’t have to suffer the humiliation of asking a fellow student for help, it showed him the generosity and caring hearts beating in these dogs that no one else saw.
The Comfort Dog Project combines trauma counseling with instruction on how to create loving bonds with dogs rescued and rehabilitated by BIG FIX. The Comfort Dog Project also discovered how important dog training is to solidify the human-dog bond and enhancing the program’s therapeutic impact. Since 2015, 38 Guardians have completed the program and become “Field Educators.” This is particularly impressive considering the severe social shut down suffered by many when entering the program. The Comfort Dog Project Field Educators find they can now play key roles in the mobile field clinics teaching local dog owners how to care for their dogs and doing dog training demonstrations that amaze and delight all. One hundred percent of participants had a reduction of PTSD symptoms and improved well–being. Another measure of the program’s success? The 150 people have applied to join The Comfort Dog Project program this year. Now, the challenge is being able to say yes to them all. Sound familiar?
Even with my knowledge of the deep neural roots of the human–animal bond, The Comfort Dog Project stretches the limits of anything I’d ever thought possible. I knew if I were to even attempt to understand this most unlikely alliance, I’d have to see it myself. On Sept 24, I traveled to Northern Uganda and spent two mind–bending weeks manning a BIG FIX free field clinic that vaccinated 1,000 dogs for rabies, assisting in the spaying and neutering of 75 dogs in a “clinic” with no running water or electricity, visiting hundreds of school children to teach them about animal rights and rabies prevention. I even joined Francis on a radio broadcast to tell 3 million northern Ugandans about Warrior Canine Connection! And I marched through Gulu with proud Guardians and their Comfort Dogs in the BIG FIX parade to celebrate World Animal Day—quite the demonstration of loose-leash walking!
It’s hard for us to understand how radical this approach is for people who’ve at best, seen dogs as a tool—at worst a cur or a deadly enemy. But neither can we grasp the desperation of the people of Northern Uganda. But I saw with my own eyes that this program is making the unimaginable a healing reality. The ability of these dogs to forgive the cruelty they’ve suffered is inspiring and it allows the Guardians to rediscover emotions like love, pride, and joy. Together, humans and dogs are forging family bonds where there were none, creating a powerful psychobiological buffer against despair. Together, both are safer and happier, living proof of a BIG FIX.
We at Warrior Canine Connection are honored to support our kindred colleagues in Uganda and inspired by their vision and bravery. Watch this short video by the BBC so you can see this miracle for yourself.