The Jimmy Stewart Museum celebrated its 30th anniversary on Saturday, and in attendance was one of Jimmy’s daughters and the service dog that bears his name. Check out the full story from WCCS Radio here.
Listen in to The Dog Dad podcast, as host Joel David sits down with Sarah Delcore from Warrior Canine Connection to dive into their transformative work connecting service dogs with veterans. Sarah shares insights into the organization’s unique mission, including how they train these exceptional dogs and the healing impact they have on veterans’ lives. We also discuss ways you can get involved, from becoming a puppy foster to supporting programs that even extend into the prison system, where inmates help train future service dogs. Tune in to learn how you can be part of this inspiring journey, supporting both veterans and our loyal canine friends.
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Dave Snedeker, 52, of Harrisburg, was struggling with feelings of isolation and post-traumatic stress disorder. He had served 24 years in the Army and Army National Guard, including a one-year tour in Afghanistan.
Hospitalized for a second time, he finally was ready to ask for help during his stay at Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Read the full story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Warrior Canine Connection is a nonprofit organization that enlists recovering veterans, called “Warriors,” in a therapeutic mission of learning to train service dogs for their fellow veterans. Click here to check out the full story from WLOS 13 News.
Story by Taylor Mayberry
Letterkenny Army Depot
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – For the first time in history, the Letterkenny Army Depot’s Fire and Emergency Services onboarded a firefighter and service animal team when Buddy Niner and his dog, Bea, joined LEAD on June 17.
Niner enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2007 and deployed to Afghanistan for over nine months from 2009 to 2010. “I specifically chose the U.S. Marines because my dad was a Marine, and he was someone I always looked up to my entire life,” he said. Read the full story from DVIDS here.
By Steven B. Brooks
Two different approaches to dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide prevention were shared on Aug. 23 with The American Legion TBI/PTSD Suicide Prevention Committee in New Orleans during the organization’s national convention. Read the full article from the American Legion.
Warrior Canine Connection happily invites current and past graduates, their families, our amazing volunteers and supporters to join us for WCC’s Class of 2024 virtual ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 21.
For those who wish to continue the celebration from online to in-person, WCC will also host a post-graduation ceremony reception later that afternoon. Our graduating teams and extended pack will enjoy good food, live music, barn tours, WCC store items for sale, a photo booth, fun activities and plenty of dogs!
The virtual graduation ceremony will take place online Saturday, Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. Eastern Time. The post-graduation reception, including a special barn dedication ceremony, will follow at WCC’s Healing Quarters in Boyds, Maryland at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Registration for the reception is required and will open Aug. 21 on the WCC website—stay tuned for the link and more details! This promises to be a fantastic celebration, we hope to see you there!
We are thrilled to welcome Deborah Logan to the WCC team! Deborah joined us as a Service Dog Training Apprentice in June and will be instrumental in running MBTR sessions and training WCC service dogs.
Deborah’s journey with WCC began when she met one of the original service dogs, WCC’s Cadence. As a volunteer puppy parent during her college years, she demonstrated her dedication to our mission. Recently, she graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and even helped establish a new WCC training club at UMD. Deborah is passionate about continuing Cadence’s legacy and is eager to start her new role, using her love for dogs to positively impact Veterans’ lives.
“I’ve seen firsthand the impact service dogs can have on a Veteran, as well as their entire family,” said Deborah. “I’m excited to work for an organization I’ve been supporting for years and to learn and grow as a trainer.”
Outside of work, Deborah enjoys hiking with her black Lab, Oasis, and Sherri, the third WCC service dog in training she’s raising. We’re excited to have her on board and look forward to the great work she will do with WCC!
In the quaint town of Boyds, Maryland, there exists a matchmaking service like no other. Welcome to “D-Harmony,” where dogs and humans find their perfect match. But this isn’t your typical matchmaking service—it’s Warrior Canine Connection (WCC), a nonprofit organization that breeds, trains and places highly skilled service dogs with Veterans with visible and invisible wounds.
Much like the algorithms of online dating platforms, WCC’s “D-Harmony” uses a carefully crafted process to match Veterans with service dogs tailored to their specific needs—sort of like the equivalent of swiping right, only using a lot more data, along with a human touch.
“Every match is unique and highly individualized, as we consider each Veteran for every dog in our program,” shares Sarah DelCore, Veteran and Military Family Services Manager, WCC. “We meticulously analyze the skills needed, capabilities, personalities, energy level, lifestyles and more, of both the Veterans and the dogs to ensure a perfect fit.”
Navy Veteran Geoff Beatty was matched with WCC service dog McKee three years ago and says the process was “amazing—almost magical.”
“We’re on the same wavelength … our energies have matched each other,” said Beatty. When I have energy, he is very much the same; on days when I’m grouchy, he’s more low-key as well. I think he can feel me and how I’m doing and has an innate ability to adapt. I can’t imagine my life without McKee, he’s my constant companion who helps me navigate daily challenges.”
Beyond the chemistry and personality that just “clicked” for them, Beatty says that although unrelated to WCC, there were other signs during his initial visit to Boyds for the matching process that put him at ease.
“At the hotel, I was randomly assigned to room #815, which coincidentally is the area code where I live,” said Beatty. “McKee’s namesake, Donald McKee, was a medic in the Army and a fellow member of the American Legion. McKee trained at Camp Grant during WWII, which is only about 10-15 minutes from where I live. There were too many coincidences to be a coincidence, some things are just meant to be. I’m just WCC’s biggest fan … What a great organization they are, such good people, I just can’t say enough.”
Retired Army Captain Melissa Smith waited 2+ years before being matched with service dog Healy.
“We were committed to WCC and however long it took because of who WCC is and getting a pup who is paw-fect,” said Smith.
The duo graduated as part of WCC’s Class of 2023. Smith says the process of being matched was seamless from beginning to end.
“I felt very seen as an individual in the process,” said Smith. “I knew I was going to love any dog I received, but I trusted Sarah and the team to find the best match for me, that was the main thing. At the end of the day, I knew WCC was going to put me with someone who was the right fit me for me. I cannot imagine my life without Healy. Healy is a gift from G-d … I am truly thankful for him each and every day. I can’t thank WCC enough for how they have treated me, and also for Healy.”
Smith credits Healy for helping her get back to doing all the things she loved before her military service.
“He keeps me engaged, communicating and I’ve even become very friendly with my neighbors because of him. My PTSD has made me very hesitant to engage with people and not entrusting of folks. Healy is the complete opposite in that way of me, he’s super friendly, always super excited to see everybody, and he kind of takes the pressure off me to have something to say, and I can just enjoy him enjoying people and it takes the focus off me. Knowing he’s by my side when I need him helps me with everything I do. People don’t remember me, but they always remember Healy.”
Beyond the initial connection, WCC provides ongoing support to ensure the relationship between Veteran and service dog flourishes. Through training sessions, personalized coaching, and follow-up care, WCC’s team ensures that both human and canine are equipped to thrive together. It’s a commitment to fostering lasting bonds built on trust, empathy, and unconditional love.
Since its inception in 2011, WCC has placed 149 assistance dogs with Service Members and Veterans. Each relationship is a testament to the unbreakable bond between humans and dogs forged through “D-Harmony’s” unique matchmaking process. And just like finding love online, sometimes all it takes is a little bit of magic—and a whole lot of heart—to find your paw-fect match.
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Funding to Support WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery Training Program
BOYDS, Maryland – Veterans Help Group (VHG) has generously donated $10,000 for a second consecutive year to Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) to help support placement of skilled service dogs with wounded Veterans, and the organization’s unique Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) program. The MBTR program enlists Service Members and Veterans to help train service dogs for fellow Warriors as part of their own treatment for invisible wounds of war.
“Warrior Canine Connection deeply appreciates the continued support from Veterans Help Group,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “Their unwavering dedication, care and resources are truly making a difference in the lives of Veterans and their families, and we are immensely thankful not only for their support but to have such an amazing partner in them.”
WCC’s MBTR program teaches Veterans how to work with service dogs in training, which fulfills a time-honored military tradition of Warriors helping Warriors. In doing so, the Veteran can also benefit from skills development in communication, confidence building, accountability, emotional regulation and patience to promote an act of service while receiving a therapeutic benefit.
Matt Sauerwald, President of Veterans Help Group, stated: “We think Warrior Canine Connection is one of the best veterans’ nonprofits in the country and are privileged to be able to support them again. We also look forward to helping educate their veterans about Social Security and VA disability benefits in a forthcoming newsletter.”
Veterans Help Group was founded more than 15 years ago to advocate for disabled Veterans in securing their disability benefits.
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.
About Veterans Help Group
Veterans Help Group is committed to improving the quality of life for Veterans and their families by aggressively advocating for the favorable and timely resolution of their disability claims. The group is able to serve Veterans in all 50 States. For more information, visit www.veteranshelpgroup.com.
Warrior Canine Connection
is a 501(c)(3)
Nonprofit Organization
# 45-2981579