Ryan Garrison is many things to many people. He’s a husband to beloved wife, Julie. A father of two. Retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant E5. And most recently, a college graduate; this spring, Ryan completed his degree in organizational leadership from Wright State University. And soon, he will be the president of a nonprofit he’s launching to help Veterans like himself.
Ryan Garrison enlisted in the U.S. Air Force right after watching the Twin Towers fall on 9/11. He was a self-described “floundering” fifth-year senior in college working on his third major at the time and was planning on joining the Reserves, but that fateful day compelled him to change his course. He dropped out of school to enlist in the Air Force, where he served until 2016, including three deployments.
Ryan comes from a family steeped in military tradition: his grandfather was in World War II; his other grandfather — Vietnam; his brother is a Master Sergeant E7 in the Air Force; his uncles and cousins have all served in different branches of the Armed Forces. So, the career move felt like a natural fit for Ryan, only it was shorter lived than originally planned.
In 2006, Ryan was in Iraq working on the flight line. He was working on the K-loader, essentially a cargo lift, and while inspecting the load, a sheep farmer who had been paid by local insurgents, ran up and shot an RPG over the fence, which hit the K-loader and the blast was so hard, it blew Ryan off the vehicle. He sustained serious injuries, including fractured and torn disks in his back, which have resulted in numerous surgeries, chronic pain and anxiety.
His wife, Julie, who, at the time, was a music therapist at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), suggested Ryan explore getting a service dog. Ryan says he saw fellow Veterans there helping to train service dogs, as well as how WCC service dog Cadence had impacted his friend Rod and his family for the better, so he decided to apply for a dog through WCC.
“I wanted to find another way to deal with the issues I was going through, so I learned a lot about the service dog program,” said Ryan. “I learned all I could, but it wasn’t until I witnessed others with the dogs firsthand that I really realized their power.”
Enter Luke, a handsome black Lab and trained mobility service dog. He was paired with Ryan in 2016 and the two have been virtually inseparable ever since.
“I really can’t say enough about what Warrior Canine Connection and my service dog Luke have done for me,” said Ryan. “Thanks to Luke, my anxiety is under control, I’ve significantly decreased the medication I take, and he’s really helped me with my mobility. It’s not just that though — since being matched with Luke, I have a whole different outlook on life — a positive one.”
Garrison’s wife, Julie, couldn’t agree more. She says Luke isn’t just man’s best friend, but a member of their family, and that their two sons, Mitchell and Maxwell, simply adore him.
“He’s [Luke] just like one of my children… sometimes it’s a toss–up for who listens the best, sometimes it’s Luke, somethings it’s Mitchell, and sometimes it’s Maxwell,” said Julie. “Although, as great as he is, I don’t always trust him with unsupervised food (laughter). His [Ryan’s] dry wit that I fell in love with years ago has returned. It’s just joyful now — because of that soft presence of Luke.”
In fact, Ryan says his experience with Luke and Warrior Canine Connection partially inspired his next challenge — Valor Therapeutics, a nonprofit he and Julie will soon be launching to serve active duty Service Members, Veterans and first responders in Dayton, Ohio and the surrounding area. They plan to provide alternative forms of therapy to individuals who’ve seen and experienced trauma, such as music, art and movement therapies.
“I was inspired by my experience with Warrior Canine Connection,” said Ryan. “To receive a service dog at no cost to me, with no expectations of me and it was a stress-free process… we want to provide something similar to Veterans through our nonprofit.”
Ryan adds that he one day hopes to add a therapy dog to the offerings that Valor Therapeutics will provide.
New Faces at WCC
Emily Fritz comes to WCC after spending four years working in the nonprofit service dog industry, where she got her start as an intern and worked her way up, learning everything she could; she worked in the kennels, development, outreach and as the graduate support coordinator.
Emily has jumped in quickly at WCC and says the experience has already had a profound impact on her.
“I feel like I’ve learned so much in the past month,” says Emily. “It’s incredible being part of such a unique community and family and getting to see that “magic” of when a Veteran connects with their dog and seeing how it affects them by giving them mobility, freedom and companionship. It’s already been such a wonderful experience — I’ve met a lot of amazing people already in the short time I’ve been here.”
When not working at WCC, Emily can be found 99% of the time alongside her own trusty black Lab, “Cheeky.”
“(Says laughing) I love answering the question of what I do outside of work because my life just revolves around dogs,” says Emily. “I look at her and ask what she wants to do and that’s what we do. From swim training and nose work to hanging on the beach, I love spending my time doing anything my dog’s interested in.”
Emily graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s in animal science and a minor in disability studies. She is currently working on her master’s in human-canine life sciences at Bergin University.
Recently engaged to fiancé, John, Emily is also busy planning her wedding.
Emily McNeal comes to WCC from the U.S. Army, where she spent five years working as a lab tech. She spent most of her time in the service at Walter Reed. That’s where she began volunteering with facility dogs and began pursuing her passion to work with service dogs.
“When I was at the hospital in the Army, we would take the facility dogs to visit patients and seeing how they reacted at seeing the dogs really sparked my interest in working more closely with them,” says Emily. “It was amazing to see how, in such a short amount of time, the dogs would take their focus elsewhere — away from the pain they were dealing with — and brighten their day. Even if only for a few minutes, it was amazing to see.”
Now she’s excited to pair that prior experience with her passion for working with service dogs to help Veterans.
“I am so excited to be part of the WCC team,” says Emily. “It’s amazing to see these big, strong Veterans who have been through some life-changing experiences that some of us can’t even imagine – smile and open up while holding a tiny puppy in their arms, it’s so encouraging to see.”
Prior to joining the Army, Emily earned her undergraduate degree in childhood psychology and a master’s in human services, health and wellness, both from Liberty University.
When not spending time at WCC, Emily can usually be found coaching others as a Level 1 CrossFit Trainer at a local gym in Maryland.
Please join us in welcoming both Emily F. and Emily M. to our team!
The Labrador pups and the World War II Vets
July 14, 2019 – Ready for some happy, straightforward news for a change? A new litter of Labrador retriever puppies — destined to be trained as highly specialized service dogs by the nonprofit Warrior Canine Connection — will soon have a special designation of their own. The six new arrivals are to be named after American heroes who served on D-Day in “Operation Overlord.” Read the complete story in The Washington Times here.
Protect Your Pet from the Heat During the Dog Days of Summer
Remember, dogs aren’t as efficient at cooling their body temperatures as we are — they’re built to conserve rather than release heat and tend to heat up much more quickly than we do.
Here are some simple dos and don’ts to keep your best friend safe and comfortable during the summer months.
Dos
1. Always provide access to cold, fresh water.
2. Create a splash pool or find a local watering hole that allows dogs to cool off in the water. For dogs who enjoy the water, simply laying in it can help bring body temperatures down.
3. Limit your dog’s exercise when temperatures rise. Consider shorter walks in the morning and in the evenings when the temperatures have dropped.
4. Protect your dog’s paws by limiting walks to grassy areas and other cooler surfaces or wait to take a stroll until the sun goes down.
5. Make sure you know how to recognize the signs of overheating in your dog. They include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, staggering, seizures and loss of consciousness.
Don’ts
1. Never, ever leave your dog in the car unattended. Even if the car is parked in the shade or it’s “only for a few minutes,” the temperature inside of a car can reach oven-like temperatures in just minutes. It’s also illegal; to-date, 31 U.S. states have laws prohibiting leaving an animal in a confined vehicle under dangerous conditions.
2. Keep your dog away from surfaces that get hot from the sun, like asphalt and cement. Being near the ground can heat their body quickly and lead to paw and skin burns.
3. If you suspect your dog is overheated, don’t try to force him to drink or submerge him in cold water— it’s best to seek immediate veterinary attention.
Maryland Public Television’s Salute to Veterans: Warrior Canine Connection
June 28, 2019 — Maryland Public Television recently featured Warrior Canine Connection in its “Salute To Veterans” segment to showcase how dogs are being bred and raised for a unique purpose — to help veterans with PTSD or mobility issues. MPT’s Nancy Yamada recently visited WCC’s Healing Quarters in Boyds, watch the story here.
Is Your Dog Ready for Fireworks?
Did you know that more dogs run away on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year? That’s why it’s crucial to take precautions in advance of the holiday. Here are a few simple steps you can take to ensure your dog’s safety.
Did we mention that preparation is a crucial element to ensure the safety and comfort of your dog prior to his first fireworks experience?If you can’t be with your dog during the fireworks, we recommend placing him with a friend or family member who can keep him company during the show to soothe him during the loud pops, bangs and bursts.If it’s an unfamiliar place for your dog, we recommend taking him there several times in advance so it’s a familiar and comfortable setting.
If you can’t take your dog somewhere and you aren’t going to be home, we recommend placing him in a crate with the radio playing. Be sure to include a treat, like a frozen Kong to keep him busy. We do require supervision for our service dogs in training ages six months and younger, and we highly recommend it for any all pets who will be experiencing their first fireworks display.
During our service dog training, we routinely expose our dogs to different sights and sounds. Although fireworks are louder and brighter, we do practice playing loud sounds for our dogs to help acclimate them to the noise. If possible, we recommend playing recorded sounds of fireworks in the months in the lead-up to the Fourth of July to help condition your dog.
If you are going to be with your dog during the fireworks, continue to talk to him, and send him reassuring messages that there’s nothing to worry about. As we like to say, “throw a party” if you notice your dog doesn’t react to the initial loud noises. Don’t be afraid to pull out those tasty bones, treats and toys to make the time special and fun for him.Remember, just a few steps on your part can ensure that both you and your dog can enjoy a very happy Fourth of July.
Why Dogs Work: The Science of the Warrior Canine Connection
(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jim Greenhill)
By Meg Daley Olmert
Despite the tens of billions of dollars being spent on Veteran health care, many Veterans continue to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). In a 2011 editorial in the Journal of the America Medical Association, military medical researcher, Charles Hoge M.D., summed up the efficacy of combat PTSD care, “With only 50% of Veterans seeking care and a 40% recovery rate, current strategies will effectively reach no more and 20% of all veterans needing PTSD care.”
Maj. Gary Wynn, a PTSD research psychiatrist at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, has called for a mandate to focus on keeping veterans in treatment by better matching therapies to patient preference.
The use of animal assisted therapy has been increasingly utilized for a variety of pain and mental health issues. Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), especially with dogs, may be well-suited to attract and retain treatment-resistant PTSD patients and enhance outcomes from conventional treatment programs. A survey of pet ownership among military found that, despite the burden of frequent relocation and occasional quarantine periods, the U.S. military community is committed to the human-animal bond. Military families share their homes with more than 400,000 pets. A survey of 896 military families found that 98% considered their pets to be members of their family.
In 2011, Rick Yount created WCC to support and expand our unique AAT model to support the treatment of service members with traumatic combat injuries at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE). Hundreds of NICoE patients volunteer for WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery Program (MBTR), a meaningful and challenging mission of training a young service dog for a fellow Veteran in-need.
Disturbed trust is commonly encountered in cases of PTSD and, in a recent study, soldiers cited a general lack of trust in mental health professionals as their key reason for treatment drop-out.5 WCC’s program takes therapeutic advantage of the fact that even the most severely wounded Veteran can still form social bonds with dogs. WCC’s Labradors and Golden Retrievers are specially selected for a calm, sociable temperament that will make them reliable and valuable mobility service.
Anecdotal testimonies of MBTR’s effects on PTSD symptom reduction from patients, family members and caregivers received additional support from a recent five-year retroactive review (2012-2015) of MBTR at the Bethesda national military medical center. Analysis of MBTR’s trainer-reported evaluations was presented at a meeting at the National Institute of Health found that participants’ emotional, cognitive, and social competencies improved significantly between their first to their last session.
In 2014, The Uniformed Services University of Health Science Consortium for Health and Military Performance was awarded funding by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command to conduct a randomized, (waitlist) controlled pilot study to investigate the acceptability, feasibility, and outcomes (psychological and behavioral) of participation in six one-hour MBTR sessions. Research participants were recruited from the DoD Outpatient Clinic (Psychiatry and Behavioral Health).
Over a period of three years, 29 volunteers completed this pilot study: 12 in the MBTR group and 17 in the Waitlist group.
Despite the burden of completing 2-3 hours of research requirements, program retention for MBTR was very high. Eleven of 12 SDTP participants completed all six one-hour training sessions. One person had to drop out due to a sudden health crisis.
MBTR’s stress-coping effects were reflected in cardiac measures taken during research sessions. These showed improvement in participants’ heart rate variability (HRV)—the heart’s ability to respond to and recover from stressful experiences. This key nervous system function has been shown to be dysregulated by PTSD. Participants’ HRV measures showed significant improvement within 10 minutes and at the end of the first and last MBTR sessions. Attendance and retention in WCC’s program offer encouraging support for the acceptability of the MBTR model and the feasibility of offering it as adjunctive therapy in a clinic facility. Data from PTSD symptom scores are encouraging and currently being prepared for publication in late 2019 or early 2020.
WCC’s MBTR program is also the focus of a larger, longer, more in-depth study being conducted in Bethesda and at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE). This study, also Congressionally funded, will look at the biopsychosocial effects 12 hours of MBTR on 220 participants with follow up measures at three months for possible long-term effects.
Over the last few years, four other studies investigated the impact of training service dogs on symptoms of combat-related PTSD. These studies focused on four different not-for-profit service dog organizations across the country that operate under individual program philosophies and practices. Despite the differences in the four programs and the protocols used to investigate them, all showed a reduction in PTSD symptoms.
These are indeed exciting, long-overdue times for research into the therapeutic potential of service dog training as a safe, effective, non-pharmaceutical intervention for the reduction of PTSD. Stay tuned!
A Passion for Service
Paul takes great joy in cooking for others and has been roasting pigs for different occasions for almost two decades. Knowing a few hundred people would show up for eye exam day, he proposed a pig roast to help feed the masses. He says it’s always a process of trial and error and that the 96-pounder he cooked up for eye exam day was no different.
“We dug a pit, and, with the rain, it flooded, so we came out to reconstruct it at 11 last night and move it over to higher ground, so that was a first,” said Paul. “Every time you change something, you have to think through the whole process, and you learn something new, which makes it a challenge, but it’s really a lot of fun. I really enjoy doing it, people really like it and seem to appreciate it.”
That “fun” included a tent for refuge; Paul, some other volunteers and WCC staff members all took shifts throughout the entire night tending to the fire, to ensure the rain didn’t put a damper on the flames. Fourteen hours later, more than 40 pounds of roasted pork were dished out to hungry eye exam attendees.
“Paul is just a wonderful person who loves our organization and mission,” said Sarah Olson, WCC volunteer coordinator. “He is always willing to give whatever he can, whenever he can — and he always does it with a smile.”
Paul’s not just known around WCC for his cooking, he and his wife, Susan, have been great friends and supporters of WCC for several years. They began volunteering with WCC as puppy parents. Susan, who retired a few years back, learned about WCC while she was at a store and met another puppy parent who had a service dog in training with her. First came Ashley. Then Moon. And now, Paul and Susan are puppy parents to one-year-old, service dog in training J.J.
“Being a puppy parent is a good challenge,” said Paul. “I think when they’re puppies, they’re like having another child. It’s also introduced me to a lot of friends I wouldn’t have otherwise. This family at WCC is just incredible — all the volunteers, the staff, we all just have a good time.”
Paul says all the hard work and fun times pale in comparison to the ultimate goal of the program.
“It’s incredible just seeing how the dogs can impact lives at the graduation ceremony,” said Paul. “The change they can bring to a Veteran’s life is just incredible — not just the Veterans but also their families, it’s amazing.”
Thank you, Paul, for your incredible service and support to WCC!
Dogs Making a Difference: Ryan & Luke
Ryan Garrison enlisted in the U.S. Air Force right after watching the Twin Towers fall on 9/11. He was a self-described “floundering” fifth-year senior in college working on his third major at the time and was planning on joining the Reserves, but that fateful day compelled him to change his course. He dropped out of school to enlist in the Air Force, where he served until 2016, including three deployments.
Ryan comes from a family steeped in military tradition: his grandfather was in World War II; his other grandfather — Vietnam; his brother is a Master Sergeant E7 in the Air Force; his uncles and cousins have all served in different branches of the Armed Forces. So, the career move felt like a natural fit for Ryan, only it was shorter lived than originally planned.
In 2006, Ryan was in Iraq working on the flight line. He was working on the K-loader, essentially a cargo lift, and while inspecting the load, a sheep farmer who had been paid by local insurgents, ran up and shot an RPG over the fence, which hit the K-loader and the blast was so hard, it blew Ryan off the vehicle. He sustained serious injuries, including fractured and torn disks in his back, which have resulted in numerous surgeries, chronic pain and anxiety.
His wife, Julie, who, at the time, was a music therapist at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), suggested Ryan explore getting a service dog. Ryan says he saw fellow Veterans there helping to train service dogs, as well as how WCC service dog Cadence had impacted his friend Rod and his family for the better, so he decided to apply for a dog through WCC.
“I wanted to find another way to deal with the issues I was going through, so I learned a lot about the service dog program,” said Ryan. “I learned all I could, but it wasn’t until I witnessed others with the dogs firsthand that I really realized their power.”
Enter Luke, a handsome black Lab and trained mobility service dog. He was paired with Ryan in 2016 and the two have been virtually inseparable ever since.
“I really can’t say enough about what Warrior Canine Connection and my service dog Luke have done for me,” said Ryan. “Thanks to Luke, my anxiety is under control, I’ve significantly decreased the medication I take, and he’s really helped me with my mobility. It’s not just that though — since being matched with Luke, I have a whole different outlook on life — a positive one.”
Garrison’s wife, Julie, couldn’t agree more. She says Luke isn’t just man’s best friend, but a member of their family, and that their two sons, Mitchell and Maxwell, simply adore him.
“He’s [Luke] just like one of my children… sometimes it’s a toss–up for who listens the best, sometimes it’s Luke, somethings it’s Mitchell, and sometimes it’s Maxwell,” said Julie. “Although, as great as he is, I don’t always trust him with unsupervised food (laughter). His [Ryan’s] dry wit that I fell in love with years ago has returned. It’s just joyful now — because of that soft presence of Luke.”
In fact, Ryan says his experience with Luke and Warrior Canine Connection partially inspired his next challenge — Valor Therapeutics, a nonprofit he and Julie will soon be launching to serve active duty Service Members, Veterans and first responders in Dayton, Ohio and the surrounding area. They plan to provide alternative forms of therapy to individuals who’ve seen and experienced trauma, such as music, art and movement therapies.
“I was inspired by my experience with Warrior Canine Connection,” said Ryan. “To receive a service dog at no cost to me, with no expectations of me and it was a stress-free process… we want to provide something similar to Veterans through our nonprofit.”
Ryan adds that he one day hopes to add a therapy dog to the offerings that Valor Therapeutics will provide.
BI Cares Foundation Donates $50,000 to WCC Through Viral “Power of Us” Campaign to Support Veterans
“Pets are love.” “For the Mission.” “Together. Inspire. Win.”
Those were just a few of the more than 700 submissions of posts and photos shared through Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation’s (BI Cares) “Power of Us” social media campaign. In May, BI Cares donated $50,000 to Warrior Canine Connection through the campaign.
A nonprofit created to improve the health and lives of people and animals, BI Cares encouraged the public to post what the “Power of Us” meant to them by sharing a meaningful or inspirational photo and a few words on social media. Spread over Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, the campaign resulted in more than 700 posts utilizing the campaign hashtag, #PowerOfUs. BI Cares provided a monetary donation for each post for a grand total of $50,000 to WCC.
“BI Cares is an amazing supporter that is making a real difference in the lives of our Veterans and their beloved service dogs who support them,” said Rick Yount, executive director and founder, Warrior Canine Connection. “The Foundation has demonstrated a true commitment to not only improving human and animal health but also to a culture of giving back, and we are immensely thankful for their support.”
As you can see from some of the screenshots, the outpouring was overwhelming; posts included photos of Veterans with their dogs, people with their pets and, of course, WCC supporters and volunteers from all over the country.
“Part of what drives Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation is the belief that people and animals share a fundamental bond — a bond that inspires passion, companionship and a meaningful connection,” said Karen Iannella, president, Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation. “To demonstrate our commitment to this bond, we chose to partner with Warrior Canine Connection, whose work aligns with our mission to improve the health and lives of people and animals.”
Visit @BoehringerIngelheim on Facebook or use #PowerOfUs to see the complete campaign photos and posts.
Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation Donates $50,000 to WCC Through Viral “Power of Us” Campaign to Support Veterans
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2019
BOYDS, Maryland –Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation (BI Cares) has generously donated $50,000 to Warrior Canine Connection to help support programs to breed, train and pair service dogs with Veterans with visible and invisible wounds. The funds were raised through the BI Cares social media campaign, “Power of Us,” a collective effort designed to make a significant impact on human and animal patients.
Through the campaign, BI Cares encouraged the public to post what the “Power of Us” meant to them by sharing a meaningful or inspirational photo and a few words on social media. The campaign elicited more than 700 social media posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram platforms utilizing the #PowerOfUs. BI Cares provided a monetary donation for each post for a grand total of $50,000 to WCC.
“BI Cares is an amazing supporter that is making a real difference in the lives of our Veterans and their beloved service dogs who support them,” said Rick Yount, executive director and founder, Warrior Canine Connection. “The Foundation has demonstrated a true commitment to not only improving human and animal health but also to a culture of giving back, and we are immensely thankful for their support.”
Of the more than 700 photos and posts, notable expressions shared include:
“Pets are love”
“For the mission”
“Veterans in need”
“Driving ideas forward”
“Together. Inspire. Win.”
“Part of what drives Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation is the belief that people and animals share a fundamental bond — a bond that inspires passion, companionship and a meaningful connection,” said Karen Iannella, president, Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation. “To demonstrate our commitment to this bond, we chose to partner with Warrior Canine Connection, whose work aligns with our mission to improve the health and lives of people and animals.”
Visit @BoehringerIngelheim or use #PowerOfUs to see the complete campaign photos and posts.
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 Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation
Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation is a nonprofit foundation with a mission to improve the health and lives of people and animals. We improve patient access to medicines and healthcare and enhance STEM education with a focus on the underserved. We provide financial support to community programs that align with our goals and engage employees who volunteer their time and skills to amplify our contributions.