MISSION PAWSIBLE

4 Paws Veterans Service Dog Program

To honor the many service men and women who are still suffering from the conflicts of war, 4 Paws for Ability will be making service/assistance dogs available to help them lead a more independent life.

A special fundraising effort is being launched to be able to place dogs free to selected disabled Veterans of the most recent wars on terror stemming from the tragic events of 9-11.

While other organizations are assisting veterans with brain injuries and loss of sight, 4 Paws has selected to assist Veterans with mobility problems or hearing loss resulting from combat injuries. The disability may be a loss of a limb, balance issues, spinal injury, deafness, or other.

The service dogs will be trained to meet each individual veteran's specific needs which could include:

• Balance work
• Stand and brace
• Helping to pull a manual wheelchair
• Turning lights on and off
• Opening household doors
• Pushing buttons to open automatic doors in public
• Retrieving dropped items
• Retrieving a phone in an emergency or other command items
• Retrieving items from shelves and counters
• Paying a cashier
• Carrying items in a backpack
• Hearing ear/Signal work
• Any other skill that can help the individual live a more independent life

Veterans with a physical disability other than traumatic brain injury from combat who have served our country in the War on Terror resulting from the events of 9-11 are eligible for the program.

4 Paws will be working with Veteran's organizations, the Veteran's Administration and other organizations to ensure proper placement and will use a selection process to evaluate veterans in need.

Once a service dog has been fully trained, the veteran will spend 10 days in Xenia, Ohio. Over the 10 day period at the training facility individuals will work with and become accustomed to their service dog and the service dog will become certified at the final day of training.

Air Compassion for Veterans will provide round trip airfare free of charge for any financially stressed, wounded veteran. For more information on this program go to: www.aircompassionforveterans.org

Veterans who are interested in this new program through 4 Paws that meet the qualifications stated above can contact us at our website or email Karen at karen4paws@aol.com.

Please include contact information, a few sentences describing the parameters of your disability, your veteran status, and whether you are receiving treatment for your disability, if so, please include the facility where you are receiving treatment.

Attached is a pdf file of the 4 Paws Veterans Service Dog Program Application.

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