Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) is calling on Montgomery County veterans and military family members to “be a hero for a hero” by training service dogs for disabled veterans. The next eight-week service dog training program begins Monday, Jan. 18 at the nonprofit’s facility in Boyds.
However, disabled veterans are not the only beneficiaries of this program. WWC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery model helps recovering veterans and active duty military members cope with post-deployment challenges. Training service dogs gives them a renewed sense of purpose, improves family relationships, reduces anxiety and prevents isolation.
Training takes place at WWC’s Healing Quarters in Boyds and includes teaching dogs basic obedience skills and retrieval commands, observing and coaching stress cue interventions, and exposing the dogs to different sights, sounds and people.
Interested volunteers can contact Emily McNeal, WCC’s training program manager, at emcneal@warriorcanineconnection.org.
