The US-based PenFed Foundation, a non-profit organisation that supports military members financially, has donated $50,000 Canine Companions for Independence to support the launch of Canine Companions’ post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) programme. The PTSD programme is intended to change the lives of veterans with PTSD in the Northeast region.
The programme will offer training to the highly-skilled assistance dogs to help the veterans with PTSD symptoms. The dogs will, after training, create physical space in public for the handler, turn on lights, and interrupt flashbacks, anxiety episodes and nightmares.
“We are proud to work with Canine Companions and want to do more to help the increasing number of wounded veterans who can benefit from an assistance dog,” said James Schenck, President and CEO, PenFed Credit Union and CEO PenFed Foundation. “Wounded veterans often face difficult transitions back to civilian life. An assistance dog can provide the help they need to regain independence, pride and hope. These dogs are changing lives.”
A successful pilot programme at Canine Companions was conducted for veterans with PTSD, in which over 6,000 service dog teams were tried by the organisation. PenFed Foundation also donated $60,000 to Canine Companions last year. “We are grateful for PenFed’s continued supported and honored to support even more of our nation’s heroes with service dogs to help mitigate the symptoms of PTSD,” said Paige Mazzoni, Canine Companions for Independence CEO. “Canine Companions is committed to helping those who have sacrificed so much by matching them with expertly-trained service dogs trained in over 40 commands. With our recent programme expansion, we can help more veterans across the nation.”