Littleton Independent > News
Freedom Service Dogs teams graduate
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| Neela Beardsdey gives the Sierra a kiss as the dog and her new owner Artie Gallegos prepare for the June 27 Freedom Service Dog graduation ceremonies. Beardsdey, director of the Weston County Humane Society in Wyoming, rescued Sierra and she was one of the first dog the Wyoming woman donated to Freedom Service Dogs. Photo by Tom Munds |
By Tom Munds
Ten teams, each made up of a master and a furry friend, received their diplomas in the June 27 Freedom Service Dog ceremonies that marked the culmination of thousands of hours training for each team.
Englewood based Freedom Service Dogs rescues animals and trains them to perform tasks to assist special-needs individuals.
Graduation is scheduled when training for both the dog and the new owner have been completed.
The June 27 ceremony at Hampden Hall in Englewood was unique because it was the first time Freedom Service Dogs have graduated enough teams to have both a spring and fall graduation plus it was the first graduation of teams that included wounded veterans.
“We began working with the Veteran’s Administration and with the Army’s Wounded Warrior Transition Battalion late last year,” said Sharan Wilson, FSD director. “The demand is great and these four vets are our first graduates. But, we are shooting high because, if we can find the dogs and raise the donations, our goal is to place 10 service dogs with 10 veterans in the next 10 months.”
The featured speaker at the graduation was Janice Jacobs, regional director for benefits for the Veteran’s Administration.
She said a chance meeting introduced her to Freedom Service Dogs and, her first thought was why not provide this service to veterans.
“Everyone in combat has someone as close as a brother called a battle buddy,” she said. “I figured the same concept would work with the Freedom Service Dogs because I felt they could help veterans cross that very scary bridge as they move toward independent civilian lives.”
She said she has seen the Freedom Service Dog program in action and touted it to the national secretary. The result is she will be presenting the information about Freedom Service Dogs at an upcoming meeting with all regional benefits directors.
Artie Guerrero, a Vietnam veteran who is in a wheelchair and his black Labrador retriever Sierra are an example of a veteran and his Freedom Service dog.
“Sierra is wonderful. She calms me and, having her with me drops my blood pressure about 15 points. That’s real important to a guy like me that has high blood pressure,” Guerrero said. “She is a great help to me too. If I drop something, she picks it up for me whether it’s keys or even a credit card.”
The Vietnam veteran teamed up with Sierra in October and credits the dog’s calming impact on him for the fact he now has been able to give up three medications that he had been on for depression.
He said he and his friend have got a lot of attention as he testified at the state capital and the dog hit the panel to open the door and hit the button for the elevator.
Veteran Ian Newland, who served in Iraq and walks with a cane, said Clark is a big help in a multitude of ways.
“If I drop my cane, Clark picks it up for me,” he said. “I am a computer technician and, at work, I’ll drop cables behind the desk and the dog will pull them to me so I can connect them. He also carries printer cartridges from floor to floor when I have to do those repairs.”
Clark’s history was discussed during the graduation. Clark was a Freedom Service Dog for three years for a boy with cerebral palsy. The boy’s mother said her son eventually improved so he no longer needed Clark’s assistance and, in what she called a very traumatic decision, they family elected to see if Clark could provide assistance to someone else. The son’s conditions were the dog remain in Colorado and be given to a veteran. Fortunately, both conditions were met as Clark now is teamed up with Newland.
Specialist Cameron Briggs suffered a traumatic brain injury in combat but he has progressed so he now is still on active duty.
He said he was excited when the idea of him with Freedom Service Dog because, growing up he always had dogs.
“I have a lot of social anxiety disorders and Harper has such a great calming impact on me to the point I can be around people again,” Briggs said. “A few months ago, I couldn’t stand to be around crowds and I would have fought you to get out of this room Harper makes it possible for me to be here for to talk with you today.”
He said his wound basically erased his short-term memory but Harper is right there when he misplaces items like his keys or his cell phone.
In addition to the veterans, teams included two young girls in wheel chairs, a young boy with autism and a woman and her dog who were going to work with troubled teens.
Many of the dogs had equally compelling stories. For example, Sierra was found abandoned in Wyoming and remained at the shelter for more than a year before being donated to Freedom Service Dogs.
Several dogs were donated through the prison-trained K-9 program and one animal had been a watch dog for a drug dealer.
Englewood based Freedom Service Dogs rescues animals and trains them to perform tasks to assist special-needs individuals.
Graduation is scheduled when training for both the dog and the new owner have been completed.
The June 27 ceremony at Hampden Hall in Englewood was unique because it was the first time Freedom Service Dogs have graduated enough teams to have both a spring and fall graduation plus it was the first graduation of teams that included wounded veterans.
“We began working with the Veteran’s Administration and with the Army’s Wounded Warrior Transition Battalion late last year,” said Sharan Wilson, FSD director. “The demand is great and these four vets are our first graduates. But, we are shooting high because, if we can find the dogs and raise the donations, our goal is to place 10 service dogs with 10 veterans in the next 10 months.”
The featured speaker at the graduation was Janice Jacobs, regional director for benefits for the Veteran’s Administration.
She said a chance meeting introduced her to Freedom Service Dogs and, her first thought was why not provide this service to veterans.
“Everyone in combat has someone as close as a brother called a battle buddy,” she said. “I figured the same concept would work with the Freedom Service Dogs because I felt they could help veterans cross that very scary bridge as they move toward independent civilian lives.”
She said she has seen the Freedom Service Dog program in action and touted it to the national secretary. The result is she will be presenting the information about Freedom Service Dogs at an upcoming meeting with all regional benefits directors.
Artie Guerrero, a Vietnam veteran who is in a wheelchair and his black Labrador retriever Sierra are an example of a veteran and his Freedom Service dog.
“Sierra is wonderful. She calms me and, having her with me drops my blood pressure about 15 points. That’s real important to a guy like me that has high blood pressure,” Guerrero said. “She is a great help to me too. If I drop something, she picks it up for me whether it’s keys or even a credit card.”
The Vietnam veteran teamed up with Sierra in October and credits the dog’s calming impact on him for the fact he now has been able to give up three medications that he had been on for depression.
He said he and his friend have got a lot of attention as he testified at the state capital and the dog hit the panel to open the door and hit the button for the elevator.
Veteran Ian Newland, who served in Iraq and walks with a cane, said Clark is a big help in a multitude of ways.
“If I drop my cane, Clark picks it up for me,” he said. “I am a computer technician and, at work, I’ll drop cables behind the desk and the dog will pull them to me so I can connect them. He also carries printer cartridges from floor to floor when I have to do those repairs.”
Clark’s history was discussed during the graduation. Clark was a Freedom Service Dog for three years for a boy with cerebral palsy. The boy’s mother said her son eventually improved so he no longer needed Clark’s assistance and, in what she called a very traumatic decision, they family elected to see if Clark could provide assistance to someone else. The son’s conditions were the dog remain in Colorado and be given to a veteran. Fortunately, both conditions were met as Clark now is teamed up with Newland.
Specialist Cameron Briggs suffered a traumatic brain injury in combat but he has progressed so he now is still on active duty.
He said he was excited when the idea of him with Freedom Service Dog because, growing up he always had dogs.
“I have a lot of social anxiety disorders and Harper has such a great calming impact on me to the point I can be around people again,” Briggs said. “A few months ago, I couldn’t stand to be around crowds and I would have fought you to get out of this room Harper makes it possible for me to be here for to talk with you today.”
He said his wound basically erased his short-term memory but Harper is right there when he misplaces items like his keys or his cell phone.
In addition to the veterans, teams included two young girls in wheel chairs, a young boy with autism and a woman and her dog who were going to work with troubled teens.
Many of the dogs had equally compelling stories. For example, Sierra was found abandoned in Wyoming and remained at the shelter for more than a year before being donated to Freedom Service Dogs.
Several dogs were donated through the prison-trained K-9 program and one animal had been a watch dog for a drug dealer.
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