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WAGS 4 TAGS: Our MissionOur Mission

Uniting our psychologically and emotionally impaired Veterans

across North Carolina with trained Companion, Emotional

Support and Psychiatric Service Dogs rescued from kill shelters

so the two can heal in unconditional love, trust and

loyalty.

Mission Statement

Striking StatisticStriking Statistic•North Carolina has the highest pet kill rate in the nation.

•300,000 pets are killed annually in North Carolina. That’s equivalent to 5,769 pets a week, 824 pets a day, or 103 pets an hour.

•Many shelters in North Carolina still use the inhumane gas chamber.

Striking Statistic 1

Striking StatisticStriking Statistic•North Carolina is home to 5 large military bases.

•With the additions of US Army Forces Command and US Army Reserve Command, Fort Bragg will be the largest Army Installation in the world.•We have the 3rd largest military population in the US next to California and Texas, with a total of 765,900 Veterans.•North Carolina is known as the “Most Military Friendly State”.

Striking 2

Military Instillations

Statistic Map Military Bases in Military Bases in North CarolinaNorth Carolina

North Carolina North Carolina Veteran’s Veteran’s Administration Administration HospitalsHospitals

VA Hospital Map

•North Carolina has 4 VA hospitals and 12 outpatient outposts

Striking Striking StatisticStatistic•Approximately 30% of service

members develop PTSD and/or TBI within a year of leaving combat.

•Veterans who screen positive for PTSD were more than four times as likely to endorse suicidal ideation relative to non-PTSD veterans.

Striking Statistic

PTSD/TBI

PTSPTSDD

•Re-experiencing: Such as flashbacks, nightmares and intrusive memories;•Avoidance/Numbing: Including a feeling of estrangement from others; and,•Hyperarousal/Hypervigilance: Including feelings of being constantly in danger.”

•PTSD and TBI may appear singularly or comorbidly.

• Symptoms vary considerably; sometimes the signs are obvious and sometimes they're not so easy to see.

Severe Anxiety

Flashbacks

Distress

Guilt

Unease

Nightmares

Anger

Alienation MistrustHopelessness

Aggression

Numbness

Self destructive behavior

Shame

Our Veterans have been there Our Veterans have been there

for us. Now they need our help.for us. Now they need our help.

Our Veterans have been there for us

Piecing it toget

her

• Volumes of documentation and personal experiences suggest that canines have a therapeutic effect, positively influencing our psychological and emotional well-being and our quality of life.

Piecing it Piecing it togethertogether

“ Recent research suggests that people with psychiatric disabilities can benefit significantly from assistive animals…Emotional support animals have been proven extremely effective at ameliorating the symptoms of …post traumatic stress disorder…” (Judge David Bazelon /Center for Mental Health Law, Washington, DC)

Recent Research Quote

Canine TherapyCanine Therapy

Canine Therapy Pictures

Animals provide emotional support quote

“…Animals that provide emotional support have been recognized as necessary assistance animals under the reasonable accommodation provision of the FHAct and Section 504.” (US Department of HUD, ‘New ADA Regulations & Assistance Animals as Reasonalbe Accommodations under the Fair Housing Act, February 17, 2011)

Wags 4 Tags firmly believes that our highly trained Companion, Emotional Support and Psychiatric Service Dogs become facilitators for the Veterans we serve, becoming their “windows” and “doors” to the civilian world

CoConclnclusiusionon

What we doWhat we do• We qualify the needs of the Veteran

thoroughly• We have partnered with Animal Shelters

across NC and vet a dog that meets the attributes required by the Veteran

• We train the canine to the level of service needed by the Veteran

• We provide necessary equipment Veteran may need for his or her new canine

• We provide follow-up training as needed

What we do cont.

• The dog is neutered, up to date on vaccines and is microchipped and is up to date on heartworm and flea/tick medicine.

• We ensure the safety and well-being of the dog with a Home Visit we conduct;

• Should the Veteran’s circumstances change for whatever reason, the dog is returned to us for safeguarding.

Why Wags 4 Tags?Why Wags 4 Tags?• We have highly trained

animal handlers (trainers & foster homes)

• We offer different levels of training, based on the Veteran’s needs

• We operate solely in North Carolina

• There is no cost whatsoever to the Veteran

•We will conduct clinical research through Duke University that will support the findings of the healing effects that canine therapy has to Veterans with P TSD, TBI and other unseen injuries.

•Our Organization’s President, has been there, and because of his dog Sadie, is here today.

How to help:How to help:•Join our sponsors and partners:the County Shelters, the NC Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Rotary International Clubs in supporting us!

•Provide us with contacts of Veterans that need help

•Volunteer your time

•Volunteer your talent

•Sponsor a fund-raiser

•Financial Donation

CONTACT WAGS 4 TAGSCONTACT WAGS 4 TAGS• www.wags4tags.org• Ronnie Sadoski: 919-475-2076 or• wags4tagsnc@gmail.com;• Terri Stober: 919-522-0575 or• wags4tags@hotmail.com• AND LET’S LET OUR SHELTER PETS

AND VETERANS KNOW THAT WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THEM…

•Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson lay in a coffin, draped in an American flag, in front of a tearful audience mourning his death in Afghanistan. Soon an old friend appeared, and like a fellow soldier on a battlefield, his loyal dog refused to leave him behind.” (S. Stump, 8/25/2011)