A Service Dog for Nick
I am raising money for a Service Dog to help me have a better life. I am a Desert Storm Veteran who has served my country In the US Air Force. I have been diagnosed with Severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) I have been advised to obtain a Service Dog to assist me with my struggles.
The money collected will go towards the cost of commuting from Madison to Chicago and the housing while I am there. Since the training, grooming, and the supplies that it takes to turn a great dog into a Service Dog are all donated by Paws Assisting Wounded Warriors, any money that is not used for the propose of commuting, and hotel will be given to PAWWS
Paws Assisting Wounded Warriors FaceBook Page.
Information on Paws Assisting Wounded Warriors:
Paws
Assisting Wounded Warriors is based in Palos Heights, IL. Our staff is
comprised of professional dog trainers dedicated to the training of all our
service dogs. Our canine candidates come from a variety of sources, including
rescue dogs.
The
first step on the program is to pair the wounded warrior with a dog. All canine
candidates must pass a series of temperament tests in order to be eligible to
enter into the program. In addition, all dogs must be at a pre-determined level
of obedience before being handed over to the veteran. The "˜pairing process'
between the veteran and dog is critical because the "˜bond' that develops
between them is an essential element of the program. They will live together
from that point forward. All placement and training fees are at no cost to the
veteran.
Our
service dogs are trained for a series of standard commands however depending on
the individual needs of the veteran, the dog will undergo additional training
for these specific tasks. The canine will then become an official "˜Certified
Service Dog'.
A
Certified Service Dog is allowed by law to enter public places such as the
veteran's work place, restaurants, buses, stores etc. These are rights set
forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Our
program runs approximately 6 months in length and is comprised of several
training stages, most of which are catered to the individual requirements of
each soldier / canine team. These stages include individual and group sessions
focusing on canine behavior, canine care and hygiene, training techniques,
dog-whispering techniques, obedience, public access and socialization,
specialized service tasks and more. Each team shall satisfy a minimum of 80
hours of specific service training and public access.
The
skills learned in our program can also aid in new career paths for some of our
veterans. These include but are not limited to canine behaviorist, trainers,
veterinary technicians, professional dog handlers, groomers and more.
All
funding is derived from charitable donations. Please help our cause and donate
today.
Psychiatric
Service dogs to assist with recipients suffering from PTSD are trained to alert
to and interrupt their handler's destructive behaviors (including but not
limited to anxiety/ or panic attacks, and/or flashbacks, and/or aggressive
tendencies) The dogs are trained in deep pressure therapy to help alleviate
anxiety in their handler. Dogs are trained to provide boundary and distance
between their handler and others in crowed public situations. All dogs are
trained in advanced obedience for reliable public access skills. Lifetime
training support is included.