New Red Cross Therapy Dog Program at Fort Carson, Colorado
Nice article in today’s Fort Carson Mountaineer newspaper about the newly established Red Cross therapy dog program at Evans Army Community Hospital. Of course, I’m a little biased because that’s our wonderful dog, Zephan, in the picture:
There’s no direct link to the article – you have to get the complete newspaper pdf and then look on page 21. One caveat: “service dog” wasn’t used accurately in the article – they should’ve just been described as therapy dogs. Nothing sinister there, just an honest mistake somewhere along the way in the preparation or editing of the article.
Marines Love Service Dogs!
Check out this fantastic picture of a Marine two-star CCI puppy raiser and puppy (click on the picture for the giant version):
OK, I’m lying about the puppy raiser part, but the picture is very real.
That’s MGen(sel) Mike Regner, the Legislative Assistant to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, visiting with Bogie, a Canine Companions for Independence assistance dog in training, at a recent function in DC. You can read Gen Regner’s full biography here:
How to Find the Best Service Dogs for Disabled Veterans
I get asked all the time whether a specific service dog organization is good or what service dog organizations I’d recommend, particularly when talking about service dogs for disabled veterans.
It’s a great question because there are so many places out there saying they provide service dogs for veterans, people really want to help, and potential candidates for assistance dogs want to know where to apply, but it’s confusing. How can you know which ones are the best and which are the ones to avoid (and, make no mistake, there are ones you want to stay away from)?
Wounded Warriors to Climb Mt Rainier
Camp Patriot is an organization whose stated mission is “to take combat injured veterans into the outdoors for life changing adventures”.
Something they’ve done for the last coupla years is a climb up Mount Rainier with a number of wounded warriors and others. I first heard about it from one of the “others” who made the climb last year – Lt Col Robb Erickson, DO at the 114th Fighter Squadron of the Oregon Air National Guard in Klamath Falls. Robb is an F-15 instructor pilot, was the fall semester 1991 Cadet Wing Commander at the Air Force Academy, and, most importantly, is someone I’m proud to call one of my closest friends.
CCI Facility Dog Zorro – “A Very Special Friend”
A lotta times I think Facility Dogs are the most overlooked assistance dogs that Canine Companions for Independence trains – at least I know that I sure didn’t give them the respect they deserve for a long time, anyway.
You can check out the complete list of things Facility Dogs do on the CCI website, but one of those things is working with kids in an educational setting. There’s a nice story and video from WRCB in Chattanooga today about Zorro, a Facility Dog at Chattanooga Valley Elementary School in Flintstone, GA.
Maybe The Most Dedicated Service Dog Ever
There’s a tremendous story in today’s Denver Post about Comet, who might be the most dedicated service dog you’ve ever seen.
Comet is a Canine Companions for Independence skilled companion dog here in Colorado Springs who, if you look closely at the following picture, you will note only has three legs:
You can read the whole story about Comet and his buddy Veren Betzen at the following link. Unfortunately, it doesn’t mention CCI by name, but anyone who knows what a CCI cape looks like will spot it right away:
UK’s Most Famous Service Dog Is Gone
Endal, the UK’s most famous service dog who was paired with Gulf War veteran Allen Parton, was just euthanized after suffering a stroke.
“Beloved Canine Partners dog Endal is mourned”
There’s a great book about Endal which I haven’t yet read – last time I checked it wasn’t available in the US:
“Endal: How One Extraordinary Dog Brought a Family Back from the Brink”
Chicago Teens Training CCI Service Dogs
Super story last night on WGN about a group of Chicago area high school kids working with Canine Companions for Independence service dogs in training.
If you want to know what it’s like to be a CCI puppy raiser, this story and video will give you an excellent idea.
Beyond that, getting these kids involved in training these service dogs is a great angle – I don’t know that it’s a “first-of-its-kind” program as the story says, but a tremendous program, nonetheless.
CCI Dogs Visit Fire Department
CCI dogs visit the Odenton Volunteer Fire Department in a training exercise
Read more here.
First Air Force Cross in Six Years
Very, very rare for the Air Force Cross to be awarded, much less to an enlisted guy. Absolutely outstanding!
Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley presents Staff Sgt. Zachary Rhyner the Air Force Cross March 10 at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. Sergeant Rhyner of the 21st Special Tactics Squadron received the medal for uncommon valor during Operation Enduring Freedom for his actions during an intense 6.5-hour battle in Shok Valley, Afghanistan, April 6, 2008. (U.S. Air Force photo)
keep looking »About Me
I'm very active with Canine Companions for Independence as a former member of the Veterans Task Force and puppy raiser. Retired US Air Force Chief Master Sergeant with my last assignments at the Air Force Academy as the Fourth Group Sergeant Major and Dean of Faculty Superintendent.
I'm actively looking for a paid position doing what I already do full-time as a volunteer.
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