Merrick’s teams up with K9s For Warriors

K9s For Warriors and Merrick Pet Care are joining together to help American military veterans and shelter dogs. Merrick’s support will aid K9s For Warriors’ mission of pairing specially trained rescue dogs with veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disability (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI), helping them readjust to civilian life.
“More than half a million war veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disability and struggle to see that there is life after combat,” said Shari Duval, president, K9s For Warriors. “K9s For Warriors offers these Warriors a home to heal – and the support of a service dog – so they can go back out into the world again and feel safe.”
As K9s For Warriors exclusive dog food partner, Merrick will provide each service dog with all their meals and training treats as they train for their service of empowering their Warriors to return to civilian life with dignity and independence. The dogs will enjoy healthy recipes made in Merrick’s kitchens which start with USDA-inspected deboned meat, fresh produce and contain high-quality and levels of protein. Merrick uses no ingredients from China, and handcrafts its recipes in its Hereford, Texas, USA, kitchen.
“K9s For Warriors takes shelter dogs and turns them in to heroes,” said Greg Shearson, CEO of Merrick Pet Care. “These dogs know what their Warriors need without having to be told and if we can play a role in helping them do their job by providing them with superior nutrition and quality care, then we should be proud.”

US Army veteran meets service dog at Three Dog Bakery

A US Army veteran and his service dog met for the first time at Three Dog Bakery’s store in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, on February 13.

Taz, a two-year-old Austrian Shepherd, was trained to provide US Army veteran Brandon Garrison with daily assistance and companionship.
Garrison, 28, was an automatic logistical specialist with the Army’s 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, and was deployed to Afghanistan between 2006 and 2007. During that time, he suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), significant hearing loss and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“I met Paul Chapa, the founder of FISH (Food Industry Serving Heroes) and we started talking about what FISH does for returning veterans,” Garrison said. “Then I was surprised to hear from Paul that I would be the recipient of the Three Dog Bakery Veterans Day promotion. And it’s happening just before my 29th birthday, so it’s a nice early birthday gift.”
Three Dog Bakery’s 2014 Veterans Day promotion raised US$5,000 via a percentage of its November 11, 2014, sales from its growing global bakery franchise network, grocery, mass and pet specialty retail outlets and threedog.com. In December, Three Dog Bakery presented a check to FISH that paid for training two service dogs. Garrison is the first recipient of the donation, which was designed to make a difference in the lives of returning military personnel who benefit from the highly specialized service dogs. He will receive a one-year supply of Three Dog Bakery food and treats as well.
Veterans face myriad challenges that can be aided with the use of a service dog, from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to immobility. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the US has 1.6 million veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, 21% of whom suffer a service-connected disability. Service dogs perform a multitude of tasks to help veterans find a new level of independence in their post-combat life. People paired with service dogs show significant improvements psychologically, socially – even economically.
Garrison says Taz will be a valuable addition in his life. While receiving support for his wartime injuries, Garrison is coping with his father’s terminal illness. His own children live in another state, so Garrison says the companionship of a service dog is extremely important to him. And because of his injuries, he also suffers from vertigo and uses a cane. Having Taz to help with his balance and retrieve items for him is another plus.
Service dogs are in high demand, with wait times up to three years. Training begins when the dogs are young. These highly trained canines work on average eight to 10 years before they retire.
According to Chapa, Taz has been trained to respond to certain commands, in English and German, due to her breed.
“This is a highly intelligent and full-service dog. She will be able to go everywhere with Brandon, from restaurants to airplanes,” Chapa says. “Brandon is just one of thousands of returning veterans who deserve this type of support.”

Three Dog Bakery raises funds for military service dogs

Through its 2014 US Veteran’s Day promotion, Three Dog Bakery raised US$5,000 from a percentage of sales made through its bakeries, retail outlets and online on November 11. At Three Dog Bakery’s Country Club Plaza bakery, officials presented a check for the amount raised to Paul Chapa, founder of FISH—Food Industry Serving Heroes. FISH will use the donation for the purchase of two service dogs. The two military recipients will also receive a year’s supply of Three Dog Bakery food and treats.

FISH engages the food and other industries in serving US military veterans. With the donations from the Three Dog Bakery Veteran’s Day promotion, FISH will make a difference in the lives of two returning military personnel who benefit from the highly specialized service dogs.
Three Dog Bakery said it appreciates the support of its customers, and plans to make its Veteran's Day promotion an annual event.

Solid Gold Pet, Warrior Canine Connection benefit service dogs, veterans

Solid Gold Pet, a holistic petfood company, and the Solid Gold Foundation have developed an alliance with Warrior Canine Connection (WCC), a US non-profit organization that enlists recovering warriors in a therapeutic mission of learning to train service dogs for their fellow veterans.

“We are proud to be a part of Warrior Canine Connection’s efforts to support warriors and their families through the healing power of dogs,” said Michelle Higdon, CEO and managing member of Solid Gold Pet. “As curators of the highest quality of natural ingredients for petfood, we believe that good nutrition can change the lives of pets and that pets can change the lives of others too, so the alliance was a natural fit."
Founded in 2011, WCC helps combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury through a therapeutic service dog training program. Training service dogs for fellow veterans with disabilities provides an opportunity for warriors recovering from psychological injuries to reintegrate into civilian life. Working with Golden and Labrador Retrievers specially bred for health and temperament, warrior trainers must train the dogs to be comfortable and confident in all environments. In teaching the dogs that the world is a safe place, the warrior trainers challenge their symptoms of combat stress.
“Warrior Canine Connection is honored to receive this generous support from Solid Gold Pet and Solid Gold Foundation,” said Rick Yount, WCC founder and executive director. “Solid Gold Pet produces a premium product with an excellent reputation for quality and taste. Our partnership with Solid Gold will help to ensure the health of our dogs and their success as the lifetime companions of Veterans with disabilities. The generous financial donation from Solid Gold Foundation will aid us as we expand our programs and services to more recovering warriors.”
Solid Gold Pet will provide dog food, treats and supplements to all of the service dogs at WCC’s program sites including their headquarters in Brookeville, Maryland and at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, the Department of Defense’s facility dedicated to advancing the diagnosis, clinical care and research of traumatic brain injury and psychological health conditions for service members. 

Petfood Forum donors raise US$2,000 for CHAMP Assistance Dogs

Petfood Forum's donors raised US$2,000 for CHAMP, an organization that trains service dogs for people with disabilities.

Petfood Forum's successful donor campaign raised a total of US$2,000 on behalf of Canine Helpers Allow More Possibilities (CHAMP).
CHAMP Assistance Dogs Inc. is a nonprofit organization that helps increase the independence of people with disabilities by partnering them – free of charge – with specially trained service dogs. Many have benefited from this service, including the 2013 Petfood Forum opening keynote speaker and paralympian, Kerri Morgan.
As part of this new partnership, Petfood Forum asked its 2013 attendees and exhibitors to donate to CHAMP. The money raised will be used for training and certification of therapy dog teams, funding of the Ability Awareness Program for schools and civic groups and funding of another program that works with dogs from the rescue community.
Petfood Forum thanks the CHAMP program sponsor, Trouw Nutrition, and all donors. For more information about CHAMP, visit the website at www.champdogs.org.

US Paralympian thanks petfood industry during Petfood Forum 2013 keynote

Assistance dogs trained by C.H.A.M.P., including Twix, help their disabled owners perform many daily tasks.

U.S. Paralympic medalist Kerri Morgan gave the keynote address at Petfood Forum 2013 on Tuesday, April 16, thanking the petfood industry for making safe, quality foods for service dog, Twix.
Morgan, a winner of two bronze medals at the 2012 London Paralympics, acquired her service dog Twix, a black Labrador Retriever, from C.H.A.M.P. Assistance Dogs Inc. C.H.A.M.P., Canine Helpers Allow More Possibilities, is a St. Louis, Missouri, USA-based nonprofit organization that trains and places service dogs for people with disabilities, at no cost. 
Morgan, who was born with a disease that left her disabled since age 1, explained that although she was independent before getting Twix, her support dog helps her perform tasks much quicker than she could, saves Morgan’s energy and helps decrease her pain. Morgan received Twix after the dog underwent two years of specialized training to become a support dog. Twix is trained to perform a variety of tasks to aid Morgan in everyday life, from holding her lunchbox and picking up shoes, to retrieving her dropped keys and holding open doors. Morgan and Twix even demonstrated a “Go 911” command, where Twix is trained to fetch a special 911 phone and bring it to Morgan in the case of an accident. 




Morgan and Twix demonstrated their "Go 911" command during her keynote speech at Petfood Forum 2013.

She noted the importance of creating safe, nutritious petfood not only for companion animals, but also for service animals, whose owners rely on the dogs daily.