Readers it is my great pleasure to share today's post. In honor of Veteran's Day, I want to share some information about Warrior Canine Connection with you.
I first learned about this organization when I read about a live "Puppy Cam," which is exactly what it sounds like. When a new litter of puppies is born, people can go to a live feed of the puppies doing puppy-like things. If the puppies have grown up and moved on to the next phase of their life, camera footage plays from previous litters. It is, in short, a beautiful thing that got me through a tough summer a few years ago after our dog crossed the Rainbow Bridge but before I could work up the nerve to get another one.
Here's where the program gets even better. These puppies are then socialized and trained with the help of veterans who are having a difficult time coping with life post-deployment. Working with the puppies builds confidence in themselves and others, gives the Warriors a sense of purpose, reduces their anxiety, and increases the positivity in their lives.
But the Warrior Canine Connection doesn't stop their good work there. Once the puppies are trained and socialized properly, with some very specific skills in place, they are given to disabled veterans as service dogs! Isn't that a fantastic idea? Talk about capitalizing on all the very best things dogs have to offer!!!
This organization obviously makes for a great topic for Veterans Day, but I have an even deeper motivation. I kind of want to toot Wiley's horn a bit. You see, the Warrior Canine Connection mentioned a costume contest on their Facebook page as Halloween was approaching, and I entered Wiley. Well, as you might be able to guess, he won! And boy was he in some great company!
Of course I think Wiley is adorable but when I saw some of these winners I was very proud to see Wiley alongside of them.
His prize came in the mail about a week after Halloween. We were both impressed with the generosity of the Warrior Canine Connection.
We thought the personalized certificate was a really nice touch, even if Wiley held it upside down the first time he posed with it.
He got it right the next time.
When he got the frisbee, I didn't even tell him to sit up. He just took the initiative.
So I got a little cocky, and gave him the treat bag to pose with.
He promptly ran off with it to the living room and make pretty short work of it. Sigh. That's what I get for over-tempting him I suppose.
Needless to say, he enjoyed the treats very thoroughly.
The lanyard will be great for me to use for my classroom keys or school ID, and Wiley said he doesn't mind if I take it for myself. He's generous that way. BOL.
Anyway, we both want to say "THANK YOU" to Warrior Canine Connection and our Veterans. Our Vets should be one of our nation's greatest priorities since they have given us all of our greatest liberties. Thank you WCC for working on helping them through a difficult transition few of us could ever imagine, and on a much lighter note thanks for selecting Wiley as a contest winner and thank you for his goodies.
Happy Veterans Day to all who have served and are serving right now. We owe you everything.
Do you have a rescue pet? I can share the story here if you contact me.
Email: pabibliophile@gmail.com
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