“CCI Salutes Independence” – Open House for Veterans, Families, And Friends
Put this one on your calendar if you’re gonna be anywhere in Southern California on Saturday, July 11th. In fact, this event is so great, you might want to plan on making a special trip to SoCal for it, especially if you’re a veteran considering getting an assistance dog.
The Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) Southwest Regional Center in Oceanside, CA is hosting their second annual “CCI Salutes Independence” event, an open house for active duty military members, veterans, their families, and friends, from 11AM to 3PM on that date:
Warrior Legacy Foundation: “Veterans make the community in which they live a better place.”
The Warrior Legacy Foundation is a brand new organization just launched on Memorial Day that deserves your attention.
WLF is “a non-partisan organization committed to the protection and promotion of the reputation and dignity of America’s Warriors” and is “a passionate advocate for the preservation and elevation of the hallowed legacy of the American Warrior Class.” Their core tenets are:
I. Defend the Defenders
(Through advocacy and policy influence, we will enhance our warriors ability to fight and win)
Places You Should Know: NEADS “Canines for Combat Veterans”
I explained the logic behind the Places You Should Know series a while ago in this introductory post (“Places You Should Know: Assistance Dogs International (ADI) Accredited Service Dog Organizations”) – please review it, but here’s the short version.
There’s a lotta confusion or just plain lack of knowledge about service dog organizations, what they offer, and which are the best ones, especially those that focus on serving returning OEF/OIF veterans. To top it off, there’s also a seemingly ever-increasing number of service dog places out there vying for your attention and help, some with some big name celebrity endorsements.
Do You Really Think The ADA Is Working When It Comes To Service Dogs?
This story about a guy with a seizure alert dog in Madison, Wisconsin getting Tasered, pepper sprayed, and arrested when he refused to leave a McDonald’s has been getting a ton of publicity daily for some time now. You may already be familiar with it, but please read the latest:
“Madison man tussles with police over service dog”
The One and Only Veterinary Blog You Need to Read – Dolittler.com
Don’t know about you, but I’ve got tons to read, and I’m always looking for smart ways to cut that back, especially by finding the proverbial “one-stop shop” where I can get what I need all at one shot.
Most of the time I don’t even come close, but here’s an exception: Dolittler.com – the one and only veterinary site that I read, and the only one you need to read, too.
Canine Companions For Independence Benefactor Dean Koontz Interviewed
I think most people know that Dean Koontz is one of Canine Companions for Independence’s biggest supporters – if not the biggest. He’s donated millions to CCI (last number I saw was $5.5 million); the Southwest Region campus in Oceanside, CA, is named after him, his wife Gerda, and their now-departed former CCI dog, Trixie; and the Koontzes have made CCI the primary beneficiary of their estate.
- Dean Koontz, at home with his CCI release dog, Anna.
Fort Carson Red Cross Station Manager Strongly Supports Wounded Warriors
Very nice article in the Fort Carson, Colorado Mountaineer newspaper today about my friend Susanne Harlandt, the American Red Cross Station Manager there.
- Susanne Harlandt, Fort Carson Red Cross station manager, speaks with Sgt. Eddie Doyle, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
It’s a very personal interview where Susanne really lays out her feelings for the troops and where those feelings come from. Very enlightening, too, since I don’t know that most people understand that the Red Cross does the kinda things she talks about:
Inspiring Story of How One Service Dog Family Deals With Muscular Dystrophy
This is a very tough story to read – at least it was for me – but it will give you an idea of some of the really difficult things that people with service dogs and their families deal with every day.
In this case, it happens to be a Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) graduate team – Heidi Miller, her son Mitch Ball, and their Skilled Companion Dog, Lynelle – who live in Citrus Heights, CA near Sacramento. Mitch is 24, has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) with almost no ability to move his body, and, as such, requires constant care.
Air Force Coach Troy Calhoun Visits Wounded Warriors
I don’t know Coach Calhoun personally (just missed him during his days as a cadet at the Academy), but I have a number of close friends who do, and this very much tracks with what they’ve told me about the kinda guy he is:
Air Force Coach Troy Calhoun (in blue) and Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel visit Henry Bautista at a U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany.
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.
Read More About MeSubscribe via RSS
