Dogs deliver therapy to PTSD/TBI veteran

My pit bull puppies

A disabled Army veteran coping with PTSD and TBI shares her story about how dogs have changed his life. He would like to see the Veterans Administration provide benefits to support pets adopted by veterans for their own self therapy. His story speaks to the heart of what we do at Pets for Patriots in connecting last-chance pets with veterans. Many of our adopters talk about being imperfect or misunderstood, and feel a kinship with unwanted animals that are often described in similar terms. We believe this strong identification with the predicament of an "unwanted" animal is what accounts for Continue reading …

Rescued dog rescues Vietnam veteran with PTSD

Picture of Bob and rescued dog Trust

Robert (Bob) Quimby didn't know anything about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He didn't know he was affected by what he had seen in Vietnam at all - until one day his boss asked about his combat experiences: "I walked back to my desk and had my first flashback because that wall that had been built up broke down." In 1987, after 13 years working at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Bob resigned and the VA labeled him unemployable. Bob - a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient - says he cried the first time he heard that word. Bob was diagnosed with PTSD in 1989 and has lived Continue reading …

Veteran’s dying wish fulfilled: a home for Gizmo

blog dog high res

  By now you probably know the twists and turns of Gizmo, the little Shih Tzu dog pictured above, left homeless when his only family - an elderly, dying Korean War veteran -  asked us to fulfill his dying wish. In spite of a tremendous and frantic effort to find the dog a new home while his current caretaker was still alive, the veteran died without knowing where his beloved companion would end up. Many people contacted us and applied to our shelter partner, Rancho Coastal Humane Society, to give Gizmo a new leash on life. Each had their own stories, and reasons why they would be the Continue reading …

Boston radio personality interviews Quincy Animal Shelter

callie crossley

We couldn't be more thrilled to have Quincy Animal Shelter and Quarry Hills Animal Hospital as our first shelter and veterinary partners, respectively, in the great state of Massachusetts. A big 'thank you' to Dorothy Pickrell; she's a 26-year veteran of the Massachusetts Army National Guard who was inspired to bring our program to the Quincy Animal Shelter, where she has works as a volunteer. Equally deserving of our thanks is Lynda Southerland, the shelter's volunteer fundraising coordinator, who worked with her board to get the program approved and launched. In this interview with Continue reading …

US soldiers from 9/2008 Afghan conflict

Back in September, we relayed a request from Sandra, an Australian author who is looking for United States soldiers from a particular September 2008 Afghanistan conflict. If you know anyone in this unit, or can help Sandra connect to the brave folks she'd like to interview, please contact her directly. Many thanks; woot!! Continue reading …

ISO U.S. soldiers from September 2008 Taliban conflict

We received a request from a best-selling author to connect with soldiers engaged in the joint U.S.-Australian-Afghan National Army battle with the Taliban in September 2008 near Ana Kalay in Uruzgan province. If you can help, read on. And if you can't, pass it along - maybe someone you know can. Continue reading …

Pets for Patriots launches new program with the U.S. Army

The following is an email update sent to our email list subscribers yesterday. Sign up if you're not already so that you can get the latest and greatest delivered to your inbox! *** I'm a little overdue updating you on all the happenings here at Pets for Patriots, so without further ado - here goes! New program with the U.S. Army Recently I met with the Army AW2 Wounded Warrior Program team at Fort Carson, Colorado. These folks provide intensive therapy and assistance to seriously wounded soldiers and help them acclimate to life after active duty. Since that meeting, we're now a Continue reading …

Justice needs a home

justice

Folks, we have a request from the Army to help spread the word and find Justice a new home. He's an adorable 8-month old brindle boxer living near Fort Bragg, NC whose owner will be deploying to Germany and must find a new, forever home for Justice by the end of August. Please read the appeal below, help directly if you can and - if you cannot - please circulate this post among your friends, coworkers, family and neighbors. Let's help this soldier find her beloved pet a loving family: Continue reading …

Help Seleen find her new home

seleen

We received a call yesterday from a veteran referred to us by the Fort Carson Army AW2 Wounded Warrior Program, who is no longer able to care for Seleen, the beautiful dog pictured here. While we don't normally get involved in rehoming pets for individuals, if called upon we'll always try help out in some way. Seleen (just like the Mustang!) is a sweet, well-trained, eight year-old pit bull. She's up to date on all of her shots and currently lives in Pueblo, Colorado. Someone in her community is willing and able to give Seleen her forever home, where she can live out her remaining years Continue reading …

Trip to Denver & Colorado Springs

Lindsay, Justin, Marissa, Megan

As usual, overdue in writing about some recent happenings here at Pets for Patriots. One of our most exciting ventures was an April trip to Denver and Colorado Springs, during which I met with the good folks at Fort Carson Army Base. Continue reading …

RSS Feed

Subscribe

Contact Us

You Tube

You Tube Playlist

Go to our You Tube Page