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We are back with another edition of The Paw Print! Read on for all the updates from the last few months about Hero Dogs programs, events, and more. As always, thank you for your support of our work! |
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Hero Dogs facility dogs assist people in ways distinct from other types of working and service dogs. In partnership with a trained handler employed by the facility, they work full-time with staff to achieve specific treatment or program goals through animal-assisted therapy.
The mission of USUHS is to support the readiness of America’s Warfighter and the health and well-being of the military community by educating and developing uniformed health professionals, scientists and leaders.
Hero Dogs Grover joins his colleague Shetland as the second facility dog in USUHS' facility dog program. With the support of his handler, USUHS Research Associate and PTSD Study Therapist Paula Bellini, MA, Grover supports USUHS' mission in a variety of ways, including:
- providing comfort and stress relief for student community during rigorous classes and exams;
- participating in small group classes, community events, and study groups;
- introducing the benefits of animal-assisted therapy to medical students who may go on to utilize it in their careers;
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to keep up with his work!
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Brigade Commander Army Col. Patrick Donahue said of the school's facility dog program:
"[Our] students will be advantaged in understanding both the value of a facility dog to a community, as well as the potential benefit of service animals to the patients they will care for.”
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Introducing New Service Dog Teams! |
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From left to right: Hoagie and Kim, Derby and Ken, Dempsey and Tim, George and Trinity, and Norm and Carol. |
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A lot of effort goes into making the perfect match between a hero and a Hero Dog. That's why we are so proud when we get to announce these service dog partnerships after many months of hard work and dedication for everyone involved. We're so excited to keep supporting these relationships and watching their bonds grow stronger.
Visit our website to learn more about service dogs and to find out if you are eligible to apply for a Hero Dog.
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New Facility Dogs Hard at Work Helping Hundreds |
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From left to right: Hero Dogs Skipper, Holly, Sprout, and Moo. |
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Learn more about Hero Dogs' Facility Dogs program here.
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Hero Dogs on Live Television! |
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Executive Director Nikki and dog trainer Sabrina, along with Hero Dogs Fiona and Hero Dogs Travis, appeared live on Fox 5 DC at National Harbor on September 2nd! Click here to watch the segment.
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We enjoyed spending the summer meeting new people and exploring new places! Thank you to our volunteers for attending events, for giving the dogs these training opportunities, and for representing Hero Dogs out in the community! |
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On August 17th, Hero Dogs Anita, Ruth, and Noah attended an event held by Ruth and Noah's puppy sponsor, Emergent BioSolutions. Anita even tried her paw at cornhole!
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Several Hero Dogs attended the Travis Manion Foundation's 9/11 Heroes Run and 5K in Oakton, VA on September 11th and in Annapolis, MD on September 18th.
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First Time Mom Hero Dogs Shanna
Delivered a Healthy Litter!
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In mid-June, Hero Dogs Shanna delivered nine healthy puppies and four of them are being raised and trained by Hero Dogs! As with the litters who came before them, the puppies received their official names and went home with their puppy raisers at around eight weeks old in August.
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We're so happy to introduce them to you, from left to right:
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Puppies and Police
What could be better than service dog puppies cuddling with first responders?
Before going home to their puppy raisers, Hero Dogs Shanna's puppies visited police departments in Washington, DC, Laurel, MD, and Montgomery County, MD on August 17th and 18th. These visits are great opportunities for socialization for puppies and stress relief for humans!
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Welcoming Hero Dogs Morty and Spirit!
Two new Hero Dogs puppies have joined our ranks! We are happy to introduce Hero Dogs Commander Dudley W. Morton, USN and Hero Dogs Spirit!
Hero Dogs Spirit is an LGX puppy who came to Hero Dogs from the ABC. Thank you to Spirit's puppy sponsor, the Kiwanis Club of Wheaton-Silver Spring, and to The Peterson Companies at National Harbor for providing both puppies' scholarships!
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We are always on the look
out for Puppy Raisers!
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Interested in raising a future service dog?
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T-Shirt Design Contest Winners! |
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The Last of Clara's Puppies Began Advanced Training! |
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Congratulations to TWO winners of our T-Shirt Design Contest! Frankie and Matt's designs are being applied to t-shirts that we look forward to sharing with our supporters as a fundraiser.
Thank you so much to everyone who sent designs—you made it very hard to choose!
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October 29th:
November 5th:
November 19th:
December 3rd:
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