Working Dogs for Vets – The Impact on Veterans
Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Brenda and Ken Knabenshue, Co-Founders of the nonprofit, Working Dogs for Vets, who share what led them to start the organization and how it has grown to become the nation’s largest service dog provider. After Ken was discharged from the military, he was involved in a life-changing automobile accident where he became disabled and sustained multiple injuries. His physician recommended he get a service dog, but after contacting many different organizations he was repeatedly told the waiting list was 3-5 years and it would cost $12,000 to $15,000. This is when Ken decided to train his own service dog. During the interview, Ken and Brenda share the story of starting the organization and discuss how their program is unlike any other service dog program out there. They are enabling many disabled veterans by providing the knowledge, online/phone and 1 on 1 support, information and tools necessary to help them with individualized care and training at no cost to the veteran. The organization operates on generous donations, is 100% volunteer based and has had amazing success in helping veterans train their own service dogs. After a veteran/dog team has graduated, they must then help another veteran/dog team, so that No Veteran is Left Behind. Brenda and Ken both talk about the impacts on Veterans, the power of a higher purpose, how the community can support their efforts, and more.
Many disabled veterans cannot afford to have a service dog trained for them, not just due to finances but also due to the long wait times before they could receive a program trained service dog. The programs that Ken has started are unlike any other service dog program out there. They are enabling many disabled veterans by providing the knowledge, online/phone and 1 on 1 support, information and tools necessary to help them with individualized care and training at no cost to the veteran. This organization operates on generous donations, is 100% volunteer based and has had an amazing success rate in helping veterans train their own service dogs. Volunteers are our backbone!
After they have graduated into a Service Dog, the veteran/dog team must help another team! That is one of the best parts of this program veterans helping veterans, therefore No Veteran Is Left Behind. We are in the process of organizing our annual fundraiser here at headquarters in Lawrenceburg on July 4th weekend (Jul 2, 2022 )! We will have your typical food, interesting games, “manly” as opposed to “girly” door prizes, very interesting vendors, bouncy house for the kids as well as a hot dog eating contest for a gift basket of dog related items and if you’re not a friend of ours on Facebook, go to our FB page and click the like button! There is more information to come!!
Learn more:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorkingDogsForVets
Website: https://www.workingdogsforvets.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/84DogsHelp