Support Lyle's service dog in training

Mandie Sanderman is organizing this fundraiser.

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Lyle Lochner served his nation as a member of the US Marine Corps from 1987-1991 and then the Army Reserves from 1992-1995. As a marine, he served on the front lines of the first Gulf War. He earned several medals and awards, including the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two stars. Lyle continues to live a life of public service as a mail carrier for the US Postal Service.

Because of his experiences serving his country, Lyle has daily battles with PTSD. His struggles are eased with the assistance of his current service dog Bach. However, Bach is now 9 years old and Lyle's work as a mail carrier has them walking nearly 11 miles a day. While Bach is still in great health, the day is coming when Bach will want to retire from all the walking the job brings.

Because it can take up to 2 years to train a service dog, we are starting the process of training the dog that will take Bach's place by Lyle's side when Bach is ready to retire to the life of "couch dog" instead.

While Lyle was deployed, we would exchange letters and I would keep him close in my thoughts and prayers for his safety. Now, I find I am in a position to repay him in a small way for his service to our country.

I, along with Turn Key Ridge Labradors , am donating a puppy to be trained as his next service dog. I will be training this puppy over the next years and this process will include external reviews and evaluations through ELLAS for public access, obedience, and task/work assessments.

While I am donating my time as a trainer, there are some expenses that I would love to cover for Lyle. These include: vet care during training (vaccinations, flea/tick preventatives, and future spaying) ($1000), ELLAS assessments and evaluations ($600), food over the course of training ($400), as well as additional expenses such as service vests, training treats, grooming, Canine Good Citizen testing, etc.

I hope you might consider a small donation to support Lyle. You can offer this support knowing how very appreciated it is and that you are helping to give back to a serviceman who has given so much of himself to this country.