PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A nonprofit organization that provides free service dogs to military veterans with post-traumatic stress is ramping up efforts as COVID-19 restrictions ease, but they are looking for both donations and veterans to serve.
New Jersey Dogs of Honor started in 2018. It provides military veterans a service dog at no cost, if they are suffering from post traumatic stress. The rescue dogs otherwise would be facing euthanasia.
Karen Ritchie with New Jersey Dogs of Honor said the applicants can be anywhere from the region, but the veterans just have to be willing to go to Millville once a week to be trained with the dog.
“Training takes 14 to 16 weeks depending on the veteran and the dog, and getting them to do what needs to be done to for help the veteran,” Ritchie said.
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Each dog cost the organization about $4,000 dollars to be trained.
The nonprofit’s fundraising slowed because of the pandemic, but plans are in the works to change that with sales raffles and special events.
“All donations are 100% tax deductible and all donations go directly to the program. There is no administration fees. All of us that are doing this are volunteering our time and our effort to help these veterans,” Ritchie said.