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Guide Dog Foundation
—click here to go to the Guide Dog Foundation website.




America's VetDogs--Veteran's K-9 Corp.

For press information regarding the June 23rd Washington, D.C. Press Conference & Graduation Ceremony, please click here.



Kathy Griffin with veteran Dan Lasko and his VetDog Wally.Kathy Griffin talks about VetDogs on Larry King Live!


Multiple Emmy-award-winner Kathy Griffin, star of Bravo’s My Life on the D-List, has embraced America’s VetDogs and the work we do for America’s heroes. Recently, Kathy appeared on Larry King Live , and as part of the "Impact Your World." Her appearance and support continue to generate increased donations and referrals.
 
To see Kathy Griffin’s appearance on Larry King Live, click here.

[Photo: Kathy Griffin with veteran Dan Lasko and his VetDog Wally.]



A Veteran sits stroking his Golden Retriever's head in front of a VetDogs logo backdrop.America’s VetDogs on the Today Show

America’s VetDogs provides assistance dogs for disabled U.S. veterans of all eras and active duty military personnel: guide dogs for veterans who are blind, service dogs for those with disabilities other than blindness, physical therapy dogs to work with amputees in military and VA hospitals, and combat stress relief dogs that are deployed oversees with combat stress control teams as they help soldiers deal with combat and homefront issues, and sleep disorders.
 
Navy Corpsman HM3 Joseph Worley, who appeared on the Today Show with volunteers from America’s VetDogs, joined the Navy in 2003 and served in Iraq as the medic to a Marine unit.
 
In 2004, as his medical convoy was heading back to base, the first vehicle in the convoy hit an IED. Worley was in the last vehicle and jumped out to aid his wounded comrades. As he engaged in a firefight, he stepped on another IED. “I was initially reported KIA,” he states matter-of-factly. “It was a very spiritually strengthening experience.”
 
Worley lost his left leg above the knee, and suffered severe damage to his right leg and ankle. He spent almost two years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center recovering from his injuries.
 
It was during his rehabilitation that he first considered getting his own VetDog. Although he wears a prosthetic C-Leg, Worley’s VetDog Benjamin, a Golden Retriever, is trained to help with balance and stability while in harness and retrieval for when Worley uses his wheelchair.
 
Today, Worley has rebuilt his life. He’s returned to school and speaks on behalf of America’s VetDogs and other veterans service organizations.
 
If you want to help heroes like Joe Worley, please click here to donate to America’s VetDogs and support our mission to provide guide, service, and therapy dogs to the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our nation.




Kathy Griffin Salutes America's VetDogs
 
Kathy Griffin sits with a Golden Retriver VetDog and a Veteran.Multiple Emmy-award-winner Kathy Griffin, star of Bravo’s My Life on the D-List, has embraced America’s VetDogs and the work we do for America’s heroes. A VetDogs recipient spoke about how VetDogs had changed his life and introduced Griffin at each of her sold-out concerts in New York.

Griffin mentions America’s VetDogs when she makes any media appearance. Recent appearances have included Rachael Ray’s Emmy-winning daytime talk show, The Bonnie Hunt Show, CNN’s New Year’s Eve celebration with Anderson Cooper, and Jimmy Kimmel Live! Griffin has visited Iraq with the USO and has made numerous visits to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to entertain soldiers recovering from their injuries.



America’s VetDogs Holds First On-Campus Service Dog Class

In October 2008, America’s VetDogs, a subsidiary of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, held its first-ever service dog class on the campus of the Guide Dog Foundation in Smithtown, N.Y. America’s VetDogs provides guide and service dogs to disabled veterans of all eras, including those returning home from the global war on terrorism.
 
History(TM) sponsored the graduation ceremony held in New York City's Rainbow Room. Watch a video about VetDogs and History's Take a Veteran to School initiative here.

Click here to read the full story.


A soldier greets Boe "face to face."
Boe Comforts Soldiers in Iraq
 
Boe, the black Labrador Retriever presented to the U.S. Army's 85th Medical Detachment Combat Stress Control unit, is already having a positive impact on the lives of soldiers currently serving in Tikrit, Iraq.

Click here to read the story.



A soldier hugs a 6-month-old at the Dallas Airport
A Warm Welcome!

A soldier gets a warm welcome for one of our puppies at the Dallas Fort Worth Airport. The picture was taken on January 14, 2008, when over 100 troops traveled through the airport. One of the soldiers told a Dallas puppy walker that he had read a story in Stars and Stripes about Boe and Budge—our two military therapy dogs deployed to Iraq. News travels fast!
 
The Dallas puppy walker group makes frequent visits to military personnel traveling through the Dallas Fort Worth Airport.



Therapy Dogs From America's VetDogs
Officially Transferred to U.S. Army

Staff Sergeants Jack Greene and Mike Calaway pose with Budge and Boe.

SMITHTOWN, NY – Newly enlisted Sergeants First Class Boe and Budge are two black Labrador Retrievers about to embark on a historic mission.

For the first time in the history of the United States Army, skilled therapy dogs, provided by America’s VetDogs, will be deployed to Iraq to help relieve combat stress of soldiers in the field. These two specially trained dogs will work with a multidisciplinary team of Army professionals to address mental health issues as they arise in theater.

Staff Sergeants Mike Calaway stands with a Black Labrador Retriever in a VetDogs jacket. Photo credit Christopher Appoldt.Says Major Stacie Caswell, commander of the 85th Medical Detachment, “Dogs have been the unsung heroes of our war efforts. Bringing therapy dogs into Iraq will take dogs to the next level on the battlefield. The therapy dogs will be another method that our Combat Stress teams can use to break down mental health stigma and assist soldiers.”

Anecdotal evidence has existed for years that pets provide positive health benefits such as blood pressure and stress reduction, but more recently, scientific studies have been conducted to determine the validity of pet therapy.

Staff Sergeants Jack Greene and Mike Calaway, certified occupational therapy assistants with the 85th Medical Detachment and currently deployed to Iraq, were given temporary duty assignments to the campus of America’s VetDogs in Smithtown, N.Y. in December 2007 to bond and learn how to work with their new charges.

Staff Sergeants Jack Greene and Mike Calaway walk their Black Labradors in a field at the Guide Dog Foundation.After an intensive five-day training program, Budge and Boe were formally presented to the Army during the handover ceremony on December 13. According to Wells Jones, CEO of America’s VetDogs, “We are privileged and proud to have the opportunity to give something back to the men and women who dedicate themselves to our country. We’re honored to serve those who have served us.”
The dogs will accompany Greene and Calaway as they work with soldiers, whether in a one-to-one or group setting, to cope with homefront issues, sleep problems, or day-to-day operational stress. Budge and Boe can help provide emotional comfort through physical interactions such as playing fetch or simple petting.

Staff Sergeants Mike Calaway stands with his Black Labrador outside of the Guide Dog Foundation Administrative Center.Says Greene, “The dogs have a natural, uncanny way of reducing stress. It’s kind of magical.” Calaway concurs. “They will be great morale boosters as members of the team,” he adds.
America’s VetDogs is honored to make the gift of these special canines to the Army’s 85th Medical Detachment, and proud to be called to serve the valiant men and women who serve our country.

America’s VetDogs, a subsidiary of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, offers guide and service dogs to veterans of all eras. A major component of the program is to provide service dogs to members of the military recently wounded in combat.


Please click here for details and media information for this event.

Please click here to donate now to VetDogs.




Mark Rosenbaum (right) presents Jeff Bressler, executive vice president of America's VetDogs with a check for $59,145.Cardinal Health Enlists to Raise Money for VetDogs

Mark Rosenbaum, president of Integrated Provider Solutions at Cardinal Health, presents Jeff Bressler, executive vice president of America's VetDogs, with a check for $59,145 at the closing session of Cardinal Health’s annual sales meeting. Over the four-day meeting, about 3,000 Cardinal Health employees—most from sales and marketing—donated the funds to VetDogs. Rosenbaum pledged to bring the total to $60,000. With a match from the Cardinal Health Foundation, VetDogs received $120,000 in support of its programs to provide guide and service dogs to America's disabled veterans. Cardinal Health is a leading provider of healthcare products and services to hospitals, physician offices and pharmacies. Click here to learn more about Cardinal Health.