DOG BLESS USA

From Memorial Day through July 4th, Explore.org will pair up to 100 companion and service dogs, valued at $500,000, with veterans who live with PTSD.  For every 5,000 “Likes” on their Facebook page, a vet will receive a service dog.

Currently, the “Like” count is at 206,908.

The Facebook page:  Dog Bless You – Join Dog Bless You and Support Our Vets!

Joining is simply clicking on the “Like” button. Nothing more.  No forms, no emails, no verifications, etc.  Just click “Like”… cannot be any more simple that that.

“The mission of explore.org is to champion the selfless acts of others, to create a portal into the soul of humanity and to inspire life long learning. The most important thing for me is to create a portal into the soul. What is the easiest way to do this? Through dogs – they see our soul like no other. That is why as we build dog bless you, I believe that it’s mission should be to “champion the selfless acts of animals.”

The initiative aims to spread awareness about the healing role dogs can play in the lives of those suffering from PTSD.

Dog Bless You was founded by filmmaker Charles Annenberg Weingarten, a trustee of the Annenberg Foundation and also the founder of Explore.org. Partners in this effort include the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America)and other veteran and service dog organizations.

“Dogs are serving this country unlike any other animal — from the battlefields of war, to the front lines of search and rescue to the ranks of police and fire forces across this country to the everyday person in need of a companion,” said Weingarten in a prepared statement. “We want to raise awareness about the amazing role dogs can play in the lives of veterans and people who suffer from emotional and psychological damage, while giving everyone a chance to participate through a zero-cost contribution.”

“Doctors, psychologists, and certainly veterans will all attest to the incredible benefits dogs bring to those suffering from the impact of war,” said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director and founder of IAVA.

PTSD service dogs can help veterans and other trauma survivors to reduce their anxiety levels and — for those who are physically disabled — navigate through the world. They can also be trained to wake their humans up from nightmares or to remind them to take their medications. “I see big increases in confidence with the dogs,” Jennifer Petre, founder of the service-dog training organization Stiggy’s Dogs recently told Hometownlife.com. “The veterans aren’t as worried as much with the dog. It takes pressure off them.”

According to a survey by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (cited by a report at PsychCentral), 82 percent of patients with PTSD who received service dogs experienced a decrease in symptoms, while 40 percent found they were able to reduce their medications.

In addition to simply liking the Dog Bless You Facebook page, people are invited to upload patriotic photos and videos and share personal dog-related stories.

“I’m sure during the course of this campaign, we’ll see and hear some amazing stories from our brave service people whose dogs have been a prime source of salvation,” said Rieckhoff.

According to the nonprofit Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, it costs about $20,000 to raise, train and place a medical service dog.

The Dog Bless USA Challenge Grant runs from Memorial Day (May 30) through July 4.

Posting from Mother Nature Network

Published by Michelle

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