WARRIOR CANINE CONNECTION HELPS VETS OVERCOME MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WITH PUPPIES


By bblouin
Dog working with a Vet part of the Warrior Canine Connection.

Have you ever been in a bad mood around a puppy? It’s highly unlikely. Man’s best friend has been doing a great job of assisting, protecting, and being there for us when we need them. This is exactly why the Warrior Canine Connection remains committed to helping Veterans through the use of dogs. Luckily, those recovering as well as Veterans facing mental health issues benefit from the program.

What Is Warrior Canine Connection?

Warrior Canine Connection is a nonprofit organization that helps wounded Warriors through a Mission Based Trauma Recovery model. They aim to get affected Vets out of isolated feelings and negative mental health. Featuring an Assistance Dogs International (ADI) accreditation, Rick Yount founded Warrior Canine Connection to provide service dogs to Vets after an inspirational meeting between himself and a war hero at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Yount saw that the Vet was unable to leave the facility right away. When they were finally able to, they would need a dog capable of handling the large crowds found everyday in Washington D.C. From there on out, the organization focused on training Veterans to train service dogs for those who might need them in the future. In total, from the time they meet their trainer through Warrior Canine Connection graduation, the dogs are trained in 14 months. After this point, the dogs learn even more skills that are specifically designed to help Veterans in need live a fuller life.

Military Family Support Dog Program

The organization’s Military Family Support Dog program provides family members, who may need mental health assistance, dogs that can detect anxiety and stress. Many Veterans have requested dogs to assist in boosting their mental health. Studies by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) show that service dogs can aid in dealing with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) better than emotional support animals. Lastly, if you’d like to support the efforts of Warrior Canine Connection, you can donate online.

Rumors, Politics, and Misinformation

Warrior Canine Connection and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center were working together on the Dogs for Wounded Warriors program to help Veterans; however, it came to an abrupt end that sparked outrage online. Many blamed President Trump and articles circulated on social media claiming that Trump had caused the program to shutter on Veterans Day. While there was some truth to the story, here’s what you need to know in order to separate fact from fiction:

  • The program ceased on October 27, 2017, not Veterans’ Day as many articles stated.
  • While Trump was POTUS at the time, he didn't make the call to end the Dogs for Wounded Warriors program.
  • Lastly, Walter Reed officials decided to go in a different direction and called off the collaboration.

It’s also worth mentioning that while the Dogs for Wounded Warriors program sadly didn’t move forward, the great work of the Warrior Canine Connection continues. In fact, the organization is still helping the Veteran community to this day.

How to Watch the Warrior Canine Connection Puppy Cam

The good that the organization does is a breath of fresh air for the military community and the world. Luckily, if you want to catch a glimpse of it, the puppy cam is available online. Viewing the puppy cam brings you inside the nursery at Warrior Canine Connection and can be done by simply clicking the link. Additionally, it’s a great way to:

  • Relief stress
  • Watch adorable puppy activities
  • Support the organization
  • Entertain your children or even your pets (approved by my cat as I type this)

Isolation isn’t a positive feeling for anyone. In sum, the efforts provided by the Veterans help make Warrior Canine Connection a success for everyone involved. Related reads:


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