What is VetDogs?
August 5, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Human Interest
By VetDogs/PIO
August 5, 2009
Helping those who have served our country honorably to live with dignity and independence whether they are visually impaired or have other special needs, by using guide dogs,.
The VetDogs project is a new program from the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. Since its beginning in 1946, the
Foundation has always served the needs of veterans, but it has done so as part of its overall mission to improve the quality of life for people who are blind or visually impaired.
In recent years, the Foundation has come to recognize that as veterans age, and as wounded soldiers return home from the global war on terrorism, there would be a greater need for guide dogs and specialized service dogs to help them maintain mobility and independence.
Thus VetDogs was born. We realized that it was important to consolidate our outreach to disabled veterans to address these increased needs. By building cooperative relationships with the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and by forging strategic partnerships with other guide and service dog schools to widen the options and availability of services to the veteran, we will ensure that disabled veterans receive all the benefits they need to live in dignity and independence.
We will train and supply guide dogs for the visually impaired veteran and service dogs for those who have disabilities other than blindness. In addition, training on Trekker, an orientation aid that uses GPS technology and digital maps to help blind and visually impaired people navigate unfamiliar territory, is also being offered.
The Guide Dog Foundation plans to be the standard by which the military and the VA measure assistance dog providers, and VetDogs is our way of recognizing the sacrifice made by our men and women in uniform
All of our services are provided at no cost to the veteran.
VetDogs Services
The VetDogs program offers a variety of training services. Please select from the following choices:
I would like a guide dog.
I would like a service dog.
Source: VetDogs
Editor’s Note: Here is how you can help! You can contact them at:
VetDogs HQ
c/o Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc
371 East Jericho Turnpike
Smithtown, New York 11787-2976
Phone: 1-866 VETDOGS (1-866-838-3647)
E-mail info@vetdogs.org
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