Paws of Allegiance Fall 2023 – Southwest Region
Fall 2023 Newsletter – Southwest Region
IN THIS ISSUE
Highlighting Heroes
By: Claire Richardson, Marketing and Communication Specialist
Over the years, Dr. Bonita Bergin has been acknowledged for her development of the Service Dog industry, as well as founding our organization Paws for Purple Hearts. This fall, it is our pleasure to inform you of her most recent venture, as she has been awarded the title of Person of the Year at the inaugural Purple Poppy Awards & Fundraiser held by the National Service Animals Memorial (NSAM)! Not only was she acknowledged as Person of the Year, but a separate organization originally founded by Dr. Bergin, Canine Companions for Independence, won Organization of the Year!
The National Service Animal Memorial has been authorized by Congress to construct a memorial site to honor the sacrifices and contributions made by Service Animals and pioneers in this field. This event was held to memorialize the passing of this bill and celebrate the achievements made within the community. The memorial itself will be positioned in the heart of the nation’s capital to inspire visitors to pay their respects and gain a deeper understanding of the work done by the variety of Service Animals recognized in this exhibit.
To be honored at this ceremony was a milestone for Dr. Bergin and we could not be more grateful to celebrate this award alongside her. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the National Service Animal Memorial for hosting this event and allowing us to take part in this historical celebration!
A Facility Dog’s Journey at Menlo Park VA
By: Olivia Hughes, Marketing and Communication Specialist
In July, we had the privilege of placing Reid as a Facility Dog with his handler, Kristin, in the Menlo Park VA Domiciliary. We had the opportunity to catch up with Kristin and Reid since their pairing in July and are thrilled to share some updates on their journey since graduation. Kristin is happy to report that Reid’s arrival to their program was met with immense joy from the VA staff and Veteran clients alike!
“Both the Veteran clients and the staff in my program were excited about a Facility Dog joining our program. They greet him whenever they see him, love to give him pets, enjoy watching him, love to ask questions about him and ‘talk to’ him.”
Their typical work day together consists of arriving at work, where Reid greets a ton of people, then participating in various therapy groups, joining staff in the break room, visiting with the PPH Service Dogs-in- training, and concluding with the afternoon staff meeting where he gets pets and closes out his work day. Reid is always a happy addition to some Veteran outings, like to Pier 39 or the beach. Kristin also plans to begin individual sessions with Veterans where they will learn about Reid’s commands and practice handling him.
Reid has been an incredible addition to the DOM and has already touched countless lives in his few months since placement! We can’t wait to see the impact as he continues to settle into his new role.
To keep up to date with Reid’s adventures, follow us on Instagram: @pawsforpurplehearts.ca and make sure to follow his hashtag #pphreid!
PTSD Awareness: Paws for Purple Hearts Leading the March
By: Greg DeSantis, Marketing and Communication Specialist
In our ongoing commitment to Veterans and Active-Duty Service Members, Paws for Purple Hearts takes a leading role in raising awareness about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Seventeen percent of Veterans returning from combat zones have PTSD, and these alarming statistics underscore the urgent need for a better understanding of and more comprehensive approaches to addressing trauma-related conditions that can impact every facet of our Warriors’ lives.
To date, we’ve successfully paired 50 Assistance Dogs with Veterans and deployed over 150 in therapeutic programs. In addition, over 20,000 Canine-Assisted Warrior Therapy® session slots have been filled and have made a positive impact on the lives of more than 11,000 individuals. In demonstrating that impact, Paws for Purple Hearts San Diego is excited to announce our participation in this year’s Veterans Day Parade on November 11th! This event presents a wonderful opportunity for our community to unite in not only celebrating the service and sacrifices of our Veterans, but in educating others about our ability to impact their lives in a meaningful way as well.
Menlo Park 100 Year Anniversary
By: Olivia Hughes, Marketing and Communication Specialist
On August 19th, our Bay Area team joined the Menlo Park VA in celebrating its 100th year anniversary. We were honored to be a part of this milestone for the Menlo Park VA. The celebration perfectly married fun activities for Veterans and their families with access to useful resources.
Our team had the opportunity to connect with members of the community, educating about our mission, programs, and providing social therapy for members of the Veteran community. Our team felt privileged to use this event as a jumping off point to connect with so many extraordinary people. We feel grateful to be a part of the Menlo Park VA’s history and the immense impact that the Canine Corner has had on the Veteran community.
“Paws for Purple Hearts is a beloved partner with our Palo Alto VA system and it’s an honor to be able to witness the impact that the dogs have on our Veterans.”
- Kacie Newton, PAWS Program Coordinator
Throughout the event, Ambassador Dog, Schatzie, and Service Dog-in-training, Oakley, provided Social Therapy for Veterans in attendance and helped to demonstrate their knowledge of Service Dog commands. Congratulations to the Menlo Park VA on this milestone. Here is to the next 100!