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Freedomdogs Serve Our Wounded Military Veterans Back Home

With Independence Day nearly upon us, and the latest military actions occuring overseas, I feel it's highly appropriate to single out an organization that supports our wounded military veterans returning from active duty.  And they do so with dogs.

Freedomdogs.org started out as a pilot program at Camp Pendleton, and completed the program in May of this year.  The goal was to provide Marines who needed assistance with rehabilitation access to specialty service dogs.  The dogs went through two years of custom training on their way to becoming a Freedom Dog.  The dogs are then paired up with troop members returning from war with physical limitations and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  The service dogs provided necessary skills such as retrieving items; bracing to assist a person in standing or sitting; assisting with dressing/undressing; helping to open/close doors; holding or carrying of items; and developing a human-animal bond (psychosocial support).  Two programs were made available--a short-term pairing with a service dog and trainer, or a Partner for Life program which permanently places a dog with a wounded veteran.  Both programs were offered at no cost to the military personnel.

The pilot program was so successful that it has continued, and the non-profit organization is growing at a phenomenal rate.  Because all workers in the organization are volunteers, no members or trainers receive any monetary compensation for their services.  The group's goal is to eventually be a nationwide non-profit assisting veterans in all branches of the military.

You can find out more information about these animal heroes who assist our wounded war heroes by going to Freedomdogs.org.

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