Life Changing Service Dogs
in 2015 I started life changing service dogs for veterans, I met a Marine who was discharged for medical reasons, and had PTSD and traumatic brain injury, he was with a dog, I didn’t know much about service dogs until I met him and he explained what his dog, a doberman named Sun, he got from Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs in Williston Fla., I went to Williston and met with the founder of guardian angels Medical Service Dogs, Carol Borden, they raise and breed and train service dogs about 50 a year they are able to provide to veterans free of charge, they cost $25,000 for training, takes about 1 1/2 years to train, after visiting them at the facility, visiting Carol at the facility, I decided to get involved and raise money for service dogs. On June 5, 2015, a friend of mine, a vientman vet, I’m an army Vitnmam vet, George D’Angelo, pilot, vietnman vet air force,
we had breakfast at Duquenese University to raise $ for service dogs, wanted to raise money for 22 dogs at $22,000 in 22 months, there are 22 veterans a day that die by suicide. At that time. We partnered lifechaniging service dogs for veterans and partnered with Guardian Angles Med service dogs, have raised nearly $2 million , for service dogs and also money going to new campus that will be for groundbreaking, we’re all-volunteer orgaiziantion, website it padogsforvets.org,
For 8 years we’ve partnered with Guardian Angels and GA has decided because people in SWPOA have been so generous, this is their first facility outside of Florida, groundbreaking.
Jack Wagner, a Vietnam veteran, who has been tasked by GA to raise $ for the facility, and our organitiaont, Lifesaving Service Dogs for Veterans, is helping raise $ for the facility.
guardian angels has paired more than 400 dogs, no suicides from those who have been paired, PTSD, physical injuries, they struggle a lot with their wounds, some visible, some not visible. Sometimes these vets get reclusive and hole up in their homes, have fear and anxiety, they get dogs, have to take care of the dog, take the dog out, take it for walks, suddenly they’re outside, talk to people, meet people, and have more active and engaging life. These dogs save lives, prevent suicide, give veterans a chance for a wholesome life.
Only 1% of population is involved with veterans. Question is what’s the responsibility of the other 99% of Americans who have freedom in part because of what these
Anticipated cost of facility.