What is VetDogs?
Click here for an outline of the VetDogs project and its mission.
Apply for a Guide Dog
If you are a veteran who is blind or visually impaired click here.
Apply for a Service Dog
If you are a veteran with a disability other than blindness, please click here.
Useful links
VetDogs press room
Donate now
Make a donation to VetDogs.
Your rights
Contact Us
Guide Dog Foundation
—click here to go to the Guide Dog Foundation website.
Year-end Giving
DONATE NOW!The New Year doesn't begin for a few more days, so there's still time for you to donate to America's VetDogs for 2009.
We know these are challenging times, but we need your help to continue to provide guide and service dogs and training to disabled veterans, combat stress relief dogs for service members deployed in theater, and physical and mental therapy dogs to work with wounded soldiers at military and VA medical centers.
We depend on the support of our generous donors -- individuals, corporations, foundations -- to help us provide our services at no cost to veterans or active duty personnel. We receive no regular government funding.
If you are contemplating making a holiday gift to America’s VetDogs by donating cash, stock or securities to gain the full 2009 tax advantage of your donation, here are some helpful tips to follow:
In most cases a charitable gift is deemed completed when control over the asset has been transmitted from the donor to the charity. For gifts of cash and securities this means different things, depending on how the gift is transferred.
If you are making a contribution by credit card through our Web site or over the phone, if your donation is charged to your card before December 31, it will count for 2009. This is true even if your credit card bill isn’t due until January 2010.
If you are sending a gift by mail, the donation is effective on the date mailed as indicated by the postmark. If the envelope is postmarked by December 31, the gift is credited to 2009 even if it is physically received by the charity in 2010. The postmark is the key to your deduction not the date on the check or the date a security certificate is signed over.
If you are concerned that a gift being sent through the mail will not be received on time to use as a deduction on your tax return, you can physically bring the donation to America’s VetDogs if you are a local donor. The day the gift is received at the charity is the effective date of that donation.
Many individuals donate securities and stocks at the end of the year. Many of these gifts are electronically transferred to the charity directly from the donor’s broker. In the case of electronic transfers, the gift becomes effective the date the funds are reflected on the charity’s bank or brokerage account, not the date you instructed your bank or broker to make the transaction. Electronic transfers can be greatly affected by volume. As we get closer to December 31, it may take several days to move your gift from one account to another. Make sure you have given yourself sufficient time to make a gift of stock or securities.
For specific information on the tax benefits of donating cash, stocks, or securities, contact your tax adviser or the development department of the Foundation at 631-930-9000. Click here to donate now and support our veterans.
The Second Sight Shop® is open for your holiday shopping!When you shop at Second Sight Shop®, you’re not only giving a gift to someone you love, you’re helping give the gift of Second Sight® to someone who’s blind or visually impaired, or has other disabilities. Every purchase you make helps support our efforts. We have a heartwarming selection of holiday greeting cards, note cards, stuffed dogs, and sweatshirts and t-shirts. Whether you’re looking for cards or clothes, or a way to make that special year-end donation, the Second Sight Shop® is your best destination.
Click here to start shopping!
America’s VetDogs joins HISTORY’s “Take a Vet to School” initiative.America’s VetDogs is honored to participate in HISTORY’s “Take a Vet to School Day” initiative.
With a variety of suggested projects for educators, “Take a Veteran to School Day” brings history to life for students through interaction with veterans of all eras.
In November, VetDogs recipients will visit schools on Long Island and in Philadelphia to share their stories about their service and sacrifice for our country and how their service dogs have helped change their lives.
To learn more about HISTORY’s “Take a Veteran to School” initiative or about the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress, visit www.veterans.com.
America’s VetDogs is proud to count HISTORY among our supporters.
During HISTORY’s live “Teach-In” webinar at the Library of Congress for the Veterans History Project, America’s VetDogs was recognized for our work with disabled veterans. [Photo courtesy HISTORY™.]
Veterans DayVeterans Day is the annual federal and state holiday honoring the men and women who have served our nation. It is observed on November 11 and was originally known as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of hostilities in World War I. The armistice that ended the “Great War” took effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 1918.
President Woodrow Wilson declared the first Armistice Day on November 11, 1919, to honor the veterans of the “Great War.” It became a national holiday in 1938.
In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation that changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor all the men and women who had served in the armed forces, living or dead, in combat or peacetime.
For a brief time in the 1970s, Veterans Day was celebrated in October, but in 1978, the holiday was moved back to November 11 in recognition of the historic significance of that date.
America’s VetDogs honors all veterans, living and dead, who have served our nation. We are privileged to serve those who have served us.
Flag photo: © Bryan Busovicki - Fotolia.com
America’s VetDogs Receive Parasite Protection from Novartis Animal Health for More Than 1,100 Dogs
The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind and America’s VetDogs announced a partnership with Novartis Animal Health US, Inc., which is providing a one-year supply of Sentinel® (milbemycin oxime/lufenuron) Flavor Tabs® for the more than 1,100 canine graduates, dogs in training, and puppies of both organizations.
“Novartis Animal Health is helping us keep these dogs healthy by supplying their premier product, Sentinel Flavor Tabs,” said Wells Jones, CEO of the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs.
To read more please click here.
Workplace Giving and the Combined Federal CampaignAmerica’s VetDogs participates in the Combined Federal Campaign. Through the CFC and workplace giving, it’s easier than ever to support us.
Federal government employees can sign up through the Combined Federal Campaign, which is the world’s largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, which raises millions of dollars each year. Our CFC number is 81344.
There are also similar campaigns for state and local government employees, and many corporations offer matching gift or other workplace giving programs.
Click here to learn more.
America’s VetDogs Honored by Secretary of the ArmyIn June, America’s VetDogs was honored by the Secretary of the Army for our work with veterans and service members.
The Secretary of the Army Public Service Award is the second-highest level award given to civilians “for exceptional service that makes a substantial contribution to the accomplishment of the Army’s missions.”
At the June 2009 graduation of the latest VetDogs recipients, Karl Schneider, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army (Manpower & Reserve Affairs), presented a Certificate of Appreciation to VetDogs.
It reads, in part, “for distinguished public service in providing outstanding support to our Nation’s Service Members and Veterans by providing guide dogs and service dogs. Through its generous efforts, America’s VetDogs has eased the burden of so many and truly exemplifies the patriotism of the American public.”
In what turned out to be a banner week for VetDogs, Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander of the U.S. forces in Iraq, sent us a flag that flew over Al Faw Palace at Camp Victory, Iraq, “in recognition of your commitment and dedication to the service men and women of Multi-National Force—Iraq.”
You can read copies of the certificates here.
America’s VetDogs Thanks Irwin Stovroff
![Irwin Stovroff (right, with Congressman Ron Klein [D-Fla.])](Vetdogs/images/irwinKlein.jpg)
As a World War II veteran, Irwin Stovroff (right, with Congressman Ron Klein [D-Fla.]), knows the importance of vets helping today’s returning heroes.Stovroff was shot down over Nazi Germany during a bombing mission. He was captured and spent a year as a prisoner of war before the Russians liberated the camp in 1945. In 2001, he was awarded the long-overdue Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery during the war.
Many years later, Stovroff was volunteering at the Boca Raton VA medical center, counseling other former prisoners of war when he first learned of VetDogs and our programs to serve disabled veterans. Since then, the Florida resident has dedicated himself to raising funds for us.
Stovroff was recently profiled on Fox News Channel; the story, which included a follow-up a week later, highlighted Stovroff’s efforts to support the newest generation of disabled American heroes. He is one of the vets helping heroes, and we are grateful for his efforts on our behalf.
You can join Irwin Stovroff in supporting today’s heroes. Click here to donate to America’s VetDogs and help us help those who have served our country honorably live again with dignity and independence.
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.]
America’s VetDogs on the Today ShowAmerica’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
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.
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 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cardinal Health Enlists to Raise Money for VetDogsMark 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.
VetDogs Project Gives America’s Veterans Their Own K-9 Corps
When the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind was founded in 1946, part of its mission was to provide guide dogs, free of charge, to wounded soldiers returning from World War II. Sixty years later, the Foundation is still giving the gift of independence and mobility to veterans who are blind or visually impaired.However, as our nation’s veterans age, and as wounded soldiers return home from the global war on terrorism, we have come to recognize that there is an increased need for guide and service dogs to help these men and women live again with dignity and self-reliance.
Could a service dog program be developed to help the wounded soldiers returning from the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan?
With the support and vision of CEO Wells B. Jones, Mike Sergeant—who has worked with people with other disabilities in addition to blindness—and Jeff Bressler, chief training officer and chief marketing officer, respectively, in 2003 began the research to develop such a program. The Foundation’s board of directors gave its approval and included this additional outreach as part of its strategic plan.
Origin of the K-9 CorpsWorld War II saw the creation of the first U.S. “K-9 corps,” when the military realized that canines could be used to aid the U.S. war effort. The American Kennel Club and a civilian group called Dogs for Defense issued a call for dog owners across the country to donate quality animals to the Army’s Quartermaster Corps, where they would be trained for various duties. Thousands of dogs were used to guard facilities, carry messages, sniff out mines, and pull sleds. Today, the military and other law enforcement agencies still use canines as part of their teams.
The launching of the Guide Dog Foundation’s VetDogs project creates the veteran’s own K-9 corps.
Back to Civilian Life
National VetDogs Outreach Coordinator Joe Link, himself a guide dog user, understands the potential apprehension a disabled veteran may have about making the transition back to civilian life once rehabilitation therapy is completed.
Not only does a guide or service dog from the VetDogs program provide assistance for daily living, the dog serves as an ice breaker, a bridge to conversation and acceptance because it lets people focus on the dog, not the veteran’s disability. VetDogs provides guide dogs for visually impaired veterans and service dogs for those with other special needs, and the training to help them lead active, independent lives again.
TrekkerIn addition, an innovative new device called Trekker is also available for blinded veterans. Trekker uses a handheld PDA, GPS technology, and a tactile overlay to help a visually impaired person navigate unfamiliar territory.
As a person walks with Trekker, he or she can access information about approaching intersections, street names, and points of interest, and establish and follow routes. After entering a location, the Trekker will “speak” the directions; the user can then give instructions to his dog.
This service is available to all veterans who are guide dog users, even if they have a dog from another dog guide school.
Commitment to Veterans
This project reinforces the Foundation’s mission to serve the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. Our commitment to America’s veterans is stronger today than ever before.
The Guide Dog Foundation, through its VetDogs project, plans to be the standard by which the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) measure assistance dog providers. Since we first began this project, we have been working to build cooperative relationships with the military and the VA, and to develop strategic partnerships with other guide and service dog schools to ensure that veterans will get the services to which they’re entitled and have a wide variety of choices of where to obtain those services.
America’s disabled veterans know they’re not alone when they have a dog from the VetDogs program.
Please click here to find out what a guide dog can do for you.
Please click here to find out what a service dog can do for you.
PublicationsClick here to download a pdf version of the VetDogs brochure.
The official newsletter of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, the parent organization of America's VetDogs, is The Guideway. To read it and learn more about the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, click here.
If you are interested in receiving a hard copy, please e-mail your name and address to news@guidedog.org.
The Annual Report for the VetDogs for the 2006-2007 fiscal year is available. Click here to read it.
To learn how you can help support this important mission, click here.
To learn more about the right of access for guide and service dogs, click here.
Contact us
Click here to go to the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind homepage.
Thank you for visiting VetDogs.org, a project of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. New content and features will be added regularly, so check back often. If you have any difficulties when navigating through the site, please e-mail us or call 1-866-VETDOGS.
