Chase Bank has just announced a new community initiative to give grants to deserving charities. The 100 charities with the most votes will each receive a $25,000 grant. Voting will continue and ultimately, one charity will win a $1,000,000 grant. Wouldn’t it be great if that could be VetDogs? They would be able to train so many more dogs to help our veterans who are disabled.
Everyone is allowed 20 votes, so you may vote for your own personal favorite charity too – but please vote for VetDogs and help our veterans who are disabled!
Why am I so passionate about VetDogs? As most of you know, I am a volunteer puppy walker with the Guide Dog Foundation. I raise adorable little puppies for about a year, until they are old enough to go into training. In October of 2008, I was on campus with my sweet little Perky, who was almost 4 months old at the time. Melissa, a trainer, was giving a tour to the first class of veterans receiving VetDogs and asked me if I wouldn’t mind waiting so they could meet Miss Perky. Of course! The six young veterans came out and we chatted and they had the chance to pet Perky, the star of the moment. I was struck by these young men – most were close in age to my own children, several were missing limbs, all had a positive mind-set.
The wonderful Miss Perky, at 4 months old.
At the end of our conversation, I thanked them individually for their service to our country. Their reply? “No need to thank us ma’am. It’s our job. We love what we do.” I walked away in tears. It was then I resolved to do something to help make their lives easier and I saw VetDogs as the way to do it. Whether a veteran is disabled by amputation, brain trauma, PTSD or any of the other grievous wounds that occur in war, a service dog helps them achieve a sense of normalcy and independence again. Even being in public is more tolerable for them, as people focus more on the service dog and less on the veteran’s disabling condition.
Perky and I partnered to create the Perky’s Paw Necklace as a fundraiser piece for VetDogs and I am thrilled to announce that we have already raised $340 for VetDogs, just through word of mouth sales! I hope to raise much more, once my web site is up.
You can do your part for VetDogs also – please vote!
Perky's Paw Necklace, with original paw print graciously supplied by Miss Perky.
