SPRING 2015NEWSLETTER

TODA

YSPECIAL EDITION

NEWSLETTER

Paws for PatriotsThey Served Us.

Now it’s our turn.

TM

Veterans sacrificefor freedom’s sake.

Now we can returnthe favor.

There’s no greater distinction than laying down one’s life for freedom’s

sake. Some have lost their vision in the line of duty, whether from a roadside

bomb or a rare virus. Some recover in military healthcare facilities. And some bear invisible scars; wounds seared on

hearts and minds after losing friends, witnessing the unthinkable, and enduring

the unspeakable.

They’ve served us. Now it’s our turn. That’s why we provide our guide

dogs, service dogs, facility therapy dogs and emotional support dogs.

Guide dogs: renewing Dignity, Confidence, & independenceOur guide dogs offer independence and freedom to visually-impaired veterans, restoring confidence and dignity. Veterans live and learn on campus for 26 days with help from their new companions. Our intelligent dogs master over 40 commands, and our teams form an impenetrable bond. Together they navigate public transportation, streets, workplaces, neighborhoods, and unfamiliar environments with renewed self-reliance. Gone are tentative steps and white canes, replaced by heads held high and brisk paces.

Service Dogs: restoring hope& ConnectionsOur service dogs offer an uncanny ability to help veterans toward healing from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). They offer unconditional love and loyalty, and respond to commands that help restore stability and wellbeing. In public places or unfamiliar territory, the dogs check ahead and around corners for potential encounters that could become problematic for their handlers. The dogs’ physical needs provide a daily rhythm of structure and exercise. Our veterans report powerful stories of reconnecting with family and society once again.

Facility Therapy Dogs: delivering comfort in the midst of painWhen wounded warriors are far from home, there’s comfort in the unconditional love of a friendly dog. Facility therapy dogs, who live with facility staff, spend their days at military hospitals and clinics around the country, including Walter Reed, Camp LeJeune, Quantico, and others. These hand-selected dogs make rounds among the wounded and those with PTSD. Clinicians report beneficial, healing effects as our dogs ease fears, deliver calm, and take the focus off of medicine, bandages, and memories.

Emotional Support Dogs: Sharing Comfort & Companionship When veterans need a companion to alleviate symptoms of a disability, our emotional support dogs warm the heart and soothe the soul. Veterans are able to improve their physical, social, and emotional wellbeing as they find companionship, relieve loneliness, and help mitigate chronic stress, anxiety, depression, or other limitations.

There’s nothing I care about more deeply than our veterans. These men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces are the lifeblood of our country. They are the heart, soul, sweat, sinew, and muscle behind the freedoms we cherish here in the United States of America.

These are perilous times, and because of our veterans, our country stands tall as a stronghold of independence and a defender of the right to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. Our veterans leave home and all that’s near, dear, and familiar. And for those who return—and not all do—it is our duty as Americans to help them heal. You see, I have been to war. After I made it home from World War II, I’ve never forgotten our fellow veterans, not in all of these many years.

Today I have a hard message to deliver, but it’s a truth that you must understand. Since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the suicide rates of military personnel and combat veterans have spiked. PTSD and traumatic brain injuries lurk behind ominous statistics of depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse, and the breakdown of families. Nightmares, panic attacks, isolation, hyper-vigilance, these are the new norms for veterans living with PTSD. And veterans who have lost their vision struggle with the same dark symptoms in an even darker world.

But there is hope. And you can help—we must help.

Southeastern Guide Dogs makes a remarkable, undeniable difference for our veterans. I’ve seen firsthand how faithful guide dogs, loyal service dogs, comforting facility therapy dogs and emotional support dogs restore trust, renew dignity, and rebuild courage into veterans living with vision loss and PTSD, and for those recovering in military healthcare facilities. These dogs relieve spouses and children, too, from bearing the fallout of a hurting loved one.

As a friend of Southeastern Guide Dogs, I can attest to the integrity of this organization, the validity of their mission, and the critical needs they’re meeting in our veterans. And that’s why I’m linking arms with Paws for Patriots and offering to help in the best way I can—my resources. Together we must support this worthwhile program and its critical mission.

Are you with me? I am offering $120,000 on one condition: that you dig deep and give, too, to stand with me on behalf of our veterans. For every dollar you donate, I’ll match your gift up to $120,000. I’ll double your donation, and together we’ll stand proud knowing we supported the courageous men and women who sacrifice for all Americans.

Let’s help our heroes. Don’t let them down when they need us most. Join me in supporting Paws for Patriots at Southeastern Guide Dogs.

Regards,

Dear Friends,

It’s our duty as Americans to help them heal. Join Me as I support Paws for Patriots.

World War II Veteran Irwin StovroffAs a B-24 bombardier in World War II, Irwin Stovroff flew 35 missions into enemy territory. Shot down and captured, he survived 13 months as a Jewish prisoner in a Nazi prison camp. Irwin never forgot the plight of veterans and now champions the cause of service dogs for veterans with PTSD through his non-profit Vets Helping Heroes.

For every dollar you donate, I’ll match your gift up to $120,000.

You’ll double your donation, and together we’ll stand proud knowing

we supported the courageous men and women who sacrifice for all

Americans.

””

Irwin Stovroff

Dear Friends,

When we started Paws for Patriots, our purpose was to serve veterans with vision loss. We were inspired by Michael Jernigan, our Paws for Patriots co-founder and first recipient. His guide Brittani helped him create a new life after an Iraqi roadside bomb crushed his cranium and destroyed his eyes.

It didn’t take long to expand our calling. More veterans were returning home, combat weary and living with the stark realities of PTSD. As we witnessed the restorative effects of our dogs on veterans living with PTSD, we began a more customized training program.

Today, the need is greater than ever. With so many veterans hiding invisible scars, our Paws for Patriots guide dogs, service dogs, facility therapy dogs and emotional support dogs are miracles on four paws. Our veterans are counting on us and we need your help.

Be a hero for our American heroes. Support Paws for Patriots, and give the gift of freedom and independence. After the sacrifices our veterans have made for us, it’s the very least we can do.

Warm regards,

Titus HermanChief Executive Officer

Give the gift of freedom and independence.

Joseph Maguire retired from the U.S. Navy as a Vice Admiral in 2010. Prior to retiring from active duty, he served as Deputy Director for Strategic Operational Planning at the National Counterterrorism Center. Previously, Vice Admiral Maguire served as Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command. His first flag assignment was in U.S. Special Operations Command as the Director of Strategic Assessments and Resources.

Joe Maguire is highly revered as a leader in the U.S. Navy SEAL community. We’re proud to call him a friend.

Vice AdmiralJoseph MaguireU.S. Navy (ret)

April 28, 2015

I’ve spent my life in service to our country, and one of my most profound assignments was as Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command. Navy SEALS—those were my men and I’ve never met finer examples of courage and sacrifice.

Everyone who goes to war returns with wounds; some wounds are physical and others are less visible. Some of my guys came home and had challenges adjusting. War profoundly changes a person. Howard Schultz, the president of Starbucks, was right when he said, “We do a much better job of sending people to war than we do bringing them home.”

When we bring them home, the burden is on the federal government to lead, but our government cannot and should not do it alone. Instead, it is up to all Americans to provide support for those who bore the burden for us in battle.

When men and women have trouble with Post Traumatic Stress, I have witnessed firsthand how a dog can make a difference in their lives. Service dogs give them the confidence to live a full life. Their dogs help them regain their freedom and independence—they give them their lives back. The dogs earn their absolute trust.

Americans today treat our military with respect. We say, “Thank you for your service,” when we meet a person in uniform or a veteran. We allow active duty personnel to board first on airlines and recognize them with standing ovations at stadiums.

That’s nice. But if you really want to thank service members for their service, if you really want to welcome them home from these wars, then put some “skin in the game” and demonstrate your gratitude and respect by supporting Paws for Patriots. You’ll help our fellow countrymen who sacrificed so much to regain their independence. The service dogs you help provide will remind that veteran every waking moment that somebody cared, that somebody was thankful.

When I speak to the Paws for Patriots graduates, I tell them, “You have a piece missing when you come back from war. That dog helps replace the missing piece. That dog isn’t necessarily your whole life, but it makes your life whole.”

Please join me in supporting Paws for Patriots and make a veteran’s life whole.

Sincerely,

Vice Admiral Joseph MaguireU.S. Navy (Ret)

Bobby NewmanLifetime Board Member & Co-Founder of Paws for Patriots

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is the Nation’s Medical Center, proudly serving military beneficiaries in the Washington, D.C. area as well as those from across the country and around the globe. As the largest military medical center in the U.S., they are a tertiary care destination providing services in over 100 clinics and specialties. They are proud to be known as the first destination in the continental United States for caring for the wounded, ill and injured from global conflicts.

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, serves our nation’s wounded veterans and families. And making their rounds at this expansive facility are five Paws for Patriots Facility Therapy Dogs: Laura Lee, Bobbie, Archie, Susie, and Goldie. Delivering endless affection, these dogs hug the hurting and befriend the lonely.

Research and experience tell us that the warm touch of a dog reduces blood pressure, soothes tension, improves immune function, and eases the perception of pain. That’s no surprise to the staff at Walter Reed and other military medical facilities who absolutely adore our Facility Therapy Dogs.

“When a dog walks up to you with its tail wagging and holding a ball in its mouth, it is hard to play the ‘hardened warfighter’ role,” says veteran Michael Jernigan, who once spent months recovering at Walter Reed. “These young men and women will wind up playing fetch with the dog. By throwing the ball, bending over to get the ball from the dog, and then re-throwing the ball, they are inadvertently doing physical therapy. They are learning how to balance on prosthetic legs, how to manipulate prosthetic joints like elbows and wrists, and how to grasp and throw an object with a prosthetic hand. In all reality they are doing physical therapy with the dog as the therapist. The pain and soreness does not seem to bother them as much. They are more prone to push through their ‘quit point’ and make positive progress in their therapy.”

Patricia Barry coordinates Walter Reed’s therapy dog program and serves as the staff handler for Laura Lee and Goldie. “Laura Lee is older now and calmer, so she’s great in the chemo area,” she shares. “Goldie is younger and more energetic. He loves to retrieve the ball, so he’s great with physical therapy patients. In the inpatient psych unit we have yoga time; now we call it “doga” time and the patients love Goldie. For our psychiatric patients and those with traumatic brain injury, dogs don’t judge you—they just love you unconditionally.”

Walter Reed’s Facility Therapy Dogs are adopted by different branches of service, and Goldie was “commissioned” by the Air Force. In a formal ceremony, held in November during the Department of Defense’s Warrior Care Month, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III promoted Goldie from second lieutenant directly to the rank of major.

“These are remarkable living beings in my mind, and the gift they give is something that we can’t all give,” Welsh said in an article by the Air Force Public Affairs Agency. “It’s not just standing beside our great warriors on the battlefield and protecting them there, it’s caring for them after they get home and transition into the rest of their life.”

Major Goldie and Friends: Warm Hugs for Wounded Warriors

“No one left behind.” That’s Marine brotherhood, spelled out in sandbags on the roof of an Iraqi bunker where retired Marine Chief Warrant Officer James Patterson once led his detachment on his final overseas mission. They were the Mortuary Affairs detachment, their mission grim and determined. Following catastrophes, Jim’s team gathered the remains of fallen warriors and made sure they got home.

Jim once fell while pulling bodies from a burning vehicle. He wouldn’t know until returning stateside that he’d worked for months with a broken neck. Surgery followed, and he has since retired from a 24-year Marine career.

Jim’s recovery was slow. Between physical pain and haunting memories, he tried everything yet returning to “normal” wasn’t working. A doctor recommended a service dog, and Jim came to Southeastern Guide Dogs in 2010 to train with service dog, Honey Girl.

“It was love at first sight,” Jim shares. “Now Honey is with me constantly. She helps me with my physical limitations and with PTSD. Honey makes my life so much easier.”

When he first returned home, symptoms of PTSD made it hard to maintain family relationships. But Honey Girl softened rough edges, and today Jim says, “I don’t think I’d still be married if not for my dog. We have a huge bed, shared by Honey Girl, my wife, and me.”

After the Marines, Jim worked at the Pentagon and now works at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “Before I had Honey, I could never have had this job,” he shares. “In addition to providing me with physical balance, she provides a buffer so I can interact with people on a regular basis.”

When a disaster occurs in the U.S., FEMA operates 24-hours and Jim and Honey Girl take the night shift. “FEMA can be a stressful place in a disaster,” Jim says. “Honey helps more than just me when there’s a bad day at FEMA. I can’t count the number of times that someone comes up and says, ‘I’m having a really bad day. Can I pet her for a little bit?’”

“I’ve been to war many times,” Jim says. “It’s hard. But Honey has made it a lot less hard. I can’t thank Southeastern enough!”

Jim Patterson: “No One LeftBehind”

Now Honey is with me constantly. She helps me with my physical limitations and with PTSD. Honey makes my life so much easier.” ””

Michael Jernigan is a Marine, and he’s seen a few things he can’t forget. I don’t care what they call it—PTSD or a bad day in the darkness— I just know when he needs me. I can feel his body heat rising and hear the edge in his voice. I can smell the stress, but he doesn’t know that. All he knows is that I’m there. And that’s when I put my head on his lap or back up into a hug. It’s my job to calm him down but it’s more than that—it’s my mission. I was born for this. I was born to serve, and to be Mike’s guide dog, and that’s what I did best.

Remembering my early years, I want to give special thanks to Raymond Hurley, my Southeastern Guide Dogs trainer. Raymond taught me how to watch Mike’s back and keep him safe. Like the time we were in downtown Washington D.C. crossing a street, and Mike kept telling me “Forward” and I refused to go. I body blocked him and then I heard some stranger tell him, “Dude, that’s awesome, that dog wouldn’t let you step in front of that car!” It was a silent electric car, nobody could hear it, and Mike didn’t see it. He never does. But that’s why I was there. Because of Raymond and Southeastern Guide Dogs, I saved Mike’s skin hundreds of times and I loved every minute of it.

Over the past eight years, Mike and I traveled all over the country and met a lot of interesting people. I was fond of all of them, although I kept my manners when I met them in harness. I hate to be a namedropper, but I met Buccaneer Hall of Famer Mike Allstott. I met Senator John McCain during the 2008 presidential election and I met lobbyist and former Senator Fred Thompson. I met Admiral Bill McRaven from the Special Ops Command, and Vice Admiral Joseph Maguire. Let’s see, did I mention Kelsey Grammer? I met so many interesting people and honestly, they all loved me.

I’m also good at finding things. I’ve helped Mike find the door, the curb, the chair, the stairs, the elevator, the trash can, the urinal, you get the picture. If he needs to get there, I help him find it. We’re a team and we never went anywhere unless we were together.

My farewell wouldn’t be complete without a tribute to this man who means the world to me. I’ve been calling him “Mike” but you’ve got to know that he’s “Daddy” to me. Not Mike, not Michael, but Daddy.

Daddy, you’ve been my everything. When I’m with you, my world is good. You’re my best friend, my family, my idol. You’re magic to me. You gave the best belly rubs, back scratches, and hugs. You gave me a life of adventure beyond my wildest dreams. Because of you, I’ve seen the world, and I’m glad I could see it with you—and for you. I’d do anything for you. I’d guide you to the moon and back, and if I had to choose between your safety and mine, I’d save you.

People may believe that I did so much for you, but they’ve got it all wrong. You’ve done so much for me. Because of you, I’ve had a wonderful, incredible, exciting, and meaningful life. I may be retiring as a guide dog, but I’ll never retire from loving my hero, Michael Jernigan. This has been a special operation and now my main mission is coming to an end.

Semper fidelis,

Brittani

A Marine and his Dog Say FarewellMichael Jernigan’s retiring guide Brittani looks back on her years as a guide dog

Southeastern Guide Dog Brittani retired from her career guiding, protecting and supporting her handler, Cpl. Michael Jernigan (USMC, ret.), after eight wonderful years.

Michael is the first serviceman to lose both eyes in the War on Terror and the first to receive a guide dog in the Paws for Patriots™ program, which he co-founded in 2006. A roadside bomb in Iraq destroyed Michael’s eyes and severely damaged his skull and body, causing traumatic brain injury and PTSD.

With Brittani by his side, Michael completed college at USF St. Petersburg, traveled the country and built a career aiding other veterans. Brittani retires to the home of family friends in St. Petersburg and will enjoy the remainder of her years as a beloved pet. As her retirement became official, Michael’s mother read Brittani’s farewell “speech” and dedication.

As you read Brittani’s “remarks,” consider her impact on Michael’s road to recovery. And consider supporting Paws for Patriots to help other veterans like Mike find freedom and independence.

Brittani was an essential part of my recovery process. She was not only a guide but also a great companion when the world got difficult.

”

”

From Brittani, with love

They’ve served. Sacrificed. Laid it all on the line.

They’ve endured the unspeakable and come home to heal, some with visible wounds while other scars invade the night watch through flashbacks, nightmares, and cold sweats. Post Traumatic Stress. Operative word…traumatic.

They’ve served us, and now it’s our turn.

The good news is that our dogs can help. And more good news is that you can help, too, and right now your generosity will be rewarded with a MATCHING GRANT.

Veterans and Paws for Patriots supporter Irwin Stovroff has opened his heart with a $120,000 matching donation, an incredibly caring opportunity to change the lives of our veterans.

Your $100 donation becomes $200. Your $1,000 becomes $2,000. It’s simple, easy, and it’s the right thing to do on behalf of our wounded warriors.

Give your best gift today, and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing your support will instantly multiply. And on behalf of the veterans we serve, thank you for supporting Paws for Patriots.

We train dogs for people who can’t see… And for people who have seen too much.

Any $Your general donation means we’ll apply your gift where it’s needed most, right now.

Help Sponsor a Dog in Training - $1,000Helps sponsor the finest care and feeding of a dog in training (includes photo).

Help Sponsor a Veteran - $5,000Helps sponsor a veteran during their campus or in-home training (includes photo and biography)

Help Sponsor a Team - $25,000Helps sponsor a Guide Dog, Service Dog or Facility Therapy Dog team for life (includes photo and biography).

I realized that places that would normally trigger anxiety in me, didn’t bother me anymore when I had Chancie along.

Veteran Chadd Depner

””