Kevin and his trusty pal Clifford, a Warrior Canine Connection facility dog, are just one of the Veteran Service Dog Teams that graduated in September as part of Warrior Canine Connection’s class of 2019. The two have been training and working together for almost two years but recently, Clifford’s leash was passed to Kevin, marking the official beginning of their pairing.
The duo is also a regular fixture at the Buncombe County Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) in Asheville, N.C., where they help Veterans involved in the legal system navigate a way to bettering their lives.
And who better to help fellow Veterans than Kevin? You see, Kevin is also in long-term recovery, himself. While in the Marine Corps, after sustaining severe combat wounds during his deployment in Iraq, he became addicted to opioids and pain pills he was prescribed while recovering from his physical wounds. Kevin credits the support of the VA and community providers with getting his life back on track, completing graduate school, and becoming a licensed social worker. Now he’s helping other Veterans on their recovery journey.
“My experience working with Clifford has meant the world to me,” said Kevin Rumley, coordinator, Buncombe County VTC. “As a combat-wounded veteran, I struggle to remain regulated and calm in high-stress situations. Clifford brings joy and happiness to the courthouse, and anywhere he goes. From providing snuggles to traumatized youth in the courtroom (during difficult G.A.L Trials), to supporting justice-involved Veterans (in Veterans Court), Clifford is having a positive impact on every person he meets.”
The Buncombe County VTC program, a non-adversarial, treatment-based diversion program, is overseen by Judge Marvin Pope. The program is designed to help Veterans with legal issues, focuses on recovery through a coordinated effort amongst the VA and community mental health providers. In fact, if Veterans get help and do the work, upon completion of the program, Veterans can petition to have their charges dismissed.
Their partnership with Warrior Canine Connection has proven especially beneficial to all parties involved. Veteran participants in the court receive their VTC-required community service hours by training the WCC puppies, and once the puppies graduate after two years, they are paired with a combat-wounded Veteran.
“All this time I have been training these dogs, I thought I was teaching them, but in all actuality, the dogs were teaching me,” said Robinson Moore, VTC participant.
Kevin and Clifford don’t just help in the courtroom, they also assist Veterans with finding meaningful employment, housing, educational pursuits, custody cases, and everything in-between. Kevin talks about the sense of community that comes from working with Veterans during their recovery process.
“When we served together, it was a single unit, a tribe,” said Kevin. “Everyone was looking out for each other. We believe that this is just as important now that we are out of the service. It is through connection and service to others, including with the service dogs, that we are empowered to not only recover — but to thrive.”
Kevin is excited for the continued partnership with WCC, saying “We have already seen the positive impact Clifford has had on the Courthouse community. My hope is to continue to bring WCC to those places of greatest need… the healing that comes from working with these dogs is incredible.”
ABC7 Salutes: Training puppies to help heal the wounds of war
October 4, 2019 – ARLINGTON, Va. (ABC7) — A beautiful farm in Maryland is not raising livestock or crops, it’s training puppies and dogs to save lives.
“A service dog absolutely saved my life without a doubt. You don’t feel like you don’t have anyone there and you realize you do.” Spencer Milo is now 34 years old. Watch the entire ABC7 story here.
Graduation 2019 Photo Gallery
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Kevin and Clifford: From Cap & Gown to Courtroom
The duo is also a regular fixture at the Buncombe County Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) in Asheville, N.C., where they help Veterans involved in the legal system navigate a way to bettering their lives.
And who better to help fellow Veterans than Kevin? You see, Kevin is also in long-term recovery, himself. While in the Marine Corps, after sustaining severe combat wounds during his deployment in Iraq, he became addicted to opioids and pain pills he was prescribed while recovering from his physical wounds. Kevin credits the support of the VA and community providers with getting his life back on track, completing graduate school, and becoming a licensed social worker. Now he’s helping other Veterans on their recovery journey.
“My experience working with Clifford has meant the world to me,” said Kevin Rumley, coordinator, Buncombe County VTC. “As a combat-wounded veteran, I struggle to remain regulated and calm in high-stress situations. Clifford brings joy and happiness to the courthouse, and anywhere he goes. From providing snuggles to traumatized youth in the courtroom (during difficult G.A.L Trials), to supporting justice-involved Veterans (in Veterans Court), Clifford is having a positive impact on every person he meets.”
The Buncombe County VTC program, a non-adversarial, treatment-based diversion program, is overseen by Judge Marvin Pope. The program is designed to help Veterans with legal issues, focuses on recovery through a coordinated effort amongst the VA and community mental health providers. In fact, if Veterans get help and do the work, upon completion of the program, Veterans can petition to have their charges dismissed.
Their partnership with Warrior Canine Connection has proven especially beneficial to all parties involved. Veteran participants in the court receive their VTC-required community service hours by training the WCC puppies, and once the puppies graduate after two years, they are paired with a combat-wounded Veteran.
“All this time I have been training these dogs, I thought I was teaching them, but in all actuality, the dogs were teaching me,” said Robinson Moore, VTC participant.
Kevin and Clifford don’t just help in the courtroom, they also assist Veterans with finding meaningful employment, housing, educational pursuits, custody cases, and everything in-between. Kevin talks about the sense of community that comes from working with Veterans during their recovery process.
“When we served together, it was a single unit, a tribe,” said Kevin. “Everyone was looking out for each other. We believe that this is just as important now that we are out of the service. It is through connection and service to others, including with the service dogs, that we are empowered to not only recover — but to thrive.”
Kevin is excited for the continued partnership with WCC, saying “We have already seen the positive impact Clifford has had on the Courthouse community. My hope is to continue to bring WCC to those places of greatest need… the healing that comes from working with these dogs is incredible.”
Heatonist Provides Warrior Canine Connection with Generous Funds to Outfit Kitchen Facilities for its Barn Renovation Project
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BOYDS, Md. – Warrior Canine Connection’s barn renovation project will get a big boost, thanks to a generous grant from Heatonist, Purveyors of Fine Hot Sauces based out of New York City. Heatonist has donated $18,000 to help outfit the kitchenette facilities in the barn, which will substantially increase the space, usage and services for WCC’s service dog training programs for Veterans.
WCC is renovating a 1938 large dairy barn at its Healing Quarters to serve as its headquarters and training facilities. The barn alone will add 12,600 square feet of critical space to WCC’s current operational facilities. When complete, the renovation of the Healing Quarters property will increase WCC’s capacity to support programs and services for tens of thousands of Veterans and Active Duty Service Members through its program sites nationwide.
“This remarkably generous gift from Heatonist will allow us to dramatically improve the training experience for Veterans and staff, while also preserving the charm and character of this historic 1938 dairy barn,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “These funds will help transform an iconic agricultural building into a usable, accessible kitchen space to ensure that our current and future Veteran Service Dog Teams have necessary, modern-day conveniences at their fingertips as they learn, train and work with these amazing future service dogs to be.”
The proposed kitchen facilities, which are currently under design, include a 14’ x 20’ kitchenette area that will be utilized by Veterans working on site with their future service dogs, and by WCC trainers preparing specialized diets for some of the dogs in training. Kitchen facility updates include enhanced lighting, technology infrastructure and furnishings to include a refrigerator/freezer, dishwasher, cook top and sink, cabinetry, microwave, worktops and secure refrigeration for medications. All items will be commercial-grade, stainless steel appliances to ensure durability and longevity. All facilities will also meet today’s standards of safety, accessibility, usability and service. While the design is still being finalized, all-told, the project cost is estimated to be approximately $21,000.
“We couldn’t be happier to be partnering with our customers from around the country and around the world to support the noble mission of Warrior Canine Connection. The passion this team has for bringing real improvements to the lives of veterans through service animal training and knowledge sharing with other organizations is an inspiration to us all. We are proud to support WCC as they grow into the next phase in a wonderful new home.”
The WCC barn renovation project is a multi-year construction project that is estimated to take two years to complete. Support for the project is being provided by partners Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America and the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA), WCC has assembled an all-star team of experts from around the country who have helped to guide the development of the Healing Quarters.
You can read more about WCC’s barn renovation project here.
For additional information, please contact Beth Bourgeois, Warrior Canine Connection, at beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org or 719-216-3206.
Way to go, Mr. Wiggles: Check out these 13 assistance dogs who just graduated
September 30, 2019 – Have you ever wondered what an assistance dog who has completed its training gets instead of a diploma?
A forever veteran.
That’s exactly what happened Sept. 28 in Gaithersburg, Maryland during a “passing of the leash” ceremony for Warrior Canine Connection’s Class of 2019. Read the complete story at ConnectingVets.com.
Combat-wounded veterans meet new service dogs
Veterans and “Puppy Parents” from 18 different states came out to recognize the hard work and service of both the dogs and military service men and women.
September 28, 2019 – Veterans got to meet their new service dogs at Warrior Canine Connection’s graduation ceremony on Saturday.
Around a dozen “good boys and girls” were honored after they completed a two-year training program. These dogs provide emotional support for combat wounded veterans and their families. Watch the entire WDVM 25 story here.
Warrior Canine Connection Receives $75,000 Grant from Boeing in Surprise Fashion
September 6, 2019
BOYDS, Md. – Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) is pleased to announce it has received a $75,000 grant from The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) to support its Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) programming in the D.C. region and beyond.
News of the grant funding was provided at Boeing’s Arlington site today during a visit with several of WCC’s youngest service pups in training from two recent litters — the No Fail Mission and Allegiance Litters. Boeing employees helped to socialize the future service dogs, a process that starts at three weeks of age.
While there, Tim Keating, Boeing executive vice president of Government Operations, surprised WCC Founder and Executive Director Rick Yount with news of the grant funding, which added some most welcome excitement to the visit.
“That was one dog-gone great surprise!” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “It’s not every day that you attend an event and find out your organization has received a $75,000 grant. We are so thankful for Boeing’s continued support and commitment to serving our nation’s Veterans, we couldn’t do it without them.”
This recent grant funding brings Boeing’s total financial support of WCC to $175,000 over the past two years.
“Boeing is proud to partner with Warrior Canine Connection and recognizes the important work they are doing to support our military veterans and their families, said Tim Keating, Boeing’s executive vice president of Government Operations. “With this additional investment, Boeing is helping recovering Warriors reconnect with life, their families, their communities, and each other.”
WCC uses a Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) therapy model designed as an intervention for combat Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. The MBTR model provides Veterans with a sense of purpose while they are receiving treatment at Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. It is designed to remediate their symptoms of combat stress, such as isolation, emotional numbness and re-experiencing events from their combat days. MBTR also harnesses the healing power of the Warrior Ethos in which Warriors train service dogs for fellow Veterans; through the process, they learn to focus on the dogs and their mission to help another Veteran.
For more information, please contact Beth Bourgeois, Warrior Canine Connection, at beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org or 719-216-3206.
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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 BOEING COMPANY:
Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As the top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries.
Boeing employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth.
CU Anschutz Today: Service animal training program helps heal veterans
Warrior Canine Connection partners with Marcus Institute for Brain Health
August 21, 2019 — Opening doors, turning on lights, helping remove socks and shoes – for the talented service dogs in training from the non-profit Warrior Canine Connection (WCC), these skills are just the tip of the 80-command iceberg that dogs master to assist the visible and invisible injuries of their veteran partners.
For veterans dealing with the symptoms of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), the invisible wounds of war can worsen feelings of isolation and being disconnected from friends and family. Here at CU Anschutz, the Marcus Institute for Brain Health (MIBH) on campus has a new partnership with the WCC, a national nonprofit where veterans training service dogs for other veterans aims to heal those wounds. Read the full story here.
Easterseals DC MD VA Blog: Service Dogs in Training Provide Therapy for Wounded Warriors
September 3, 2019 — A large part of Easterseals’ success in achieving our mission – making profound, positive differences in the daily lives of people of all ages with disabilities, special needs, military backgrounds, and their families – is the collaborations we have with other like-minded organizations. Read the complete blog by Jon Horowitch, president and CEO, Easterseals DC MD VA here.
Warrior Canine Connection Earns 2019 Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2019
BOYDS, Maryland – Warrior Canine Connection is pleased to announce that it has earned the 2019 Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, the world’s largest source of nonprofit information. By sharing information about the organization’s goals, strategies, capabilities and vision, WCC is better able to provide meaningful data about its mission with donors, grantmakers, peers and the media.
“We are thrilled that our GuideStar Gold Nonprofit Profile allows us to communicate our organization’s key goals and initiatives on a widely visible scale,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, WCC. “We are 100% committed to being transparent about the work we’re doing, where donor dollars are going and how we are serving our nation’s heroes.”
GuideStar is the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. Through a stringent vetting process, GuideStar verifies that recipient organizations are established and that donated funds go where the donor intended, and after recent review, WCC is pleased to have been upgraded from silver to gold status.
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 68 assistance dogs with Veterans and military families. Another cadre of Veteran Service Dog teams will be paired and graduate this September.
Warrior Canine Connection’s GuideStar profile, including more detailed information about the organization, is available here.
For more information, 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 GuideStar
GuideStar is a service of Candid, an organization formed when Foundation Center and GuideStar joined forces in February 2019. The GuideStar database offers profiles of more than 2.7 million organizations. Populated with data from the IRS, nonprofits, and partners, these profiles are available through the GuideStar website and more than 200 other websites and applications, including Facebook, Amazon, Google, and Fidelity Charitable. In 2018, more than 10 million people used GuideStar data to make decisions about nonprofits and the work they do.