HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

I'd like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!!!  I'd like to give a special "shout out" to my very special K9 Handler's who I correspond with in Iraq:

Cpl. Elizondo, MA2 Fiaschi,

Ssg. Carter & Lcpl. Granado(Welcome Home)

These amazing men are without a doubt "My Hero's"

A big THANK YOU to John Burnam!!!

To the right is a photo from Vietnam of John Burman and his MWD named Clipper.

John played a HUGE role in helping the Lee Family(see postings below)get MWD retired and back to his loving family.  

I had the privilege, and I would say the up most honor of speaking to this amazing man, and he certainly is doing AMAZING THINGS!

A little about his history:

He is the author of "A Soldier's Best Friend" and "Dog Tags of Courage."  An updated version of "A Soldier's Best Friend," will be republished with some added information coming out in June 2008 by Sterling Publishing out of NY.

He is a very busy man, besides his speaking engagements across the U.S., he also is currently working on trying to get congress to have a National War Dog Memorial in the nation's capital! 

I will keep you posted because he is constantly on the move!  Oh, and if you forget about the June 2008 book coming out, don't worry(Vitamin B12 helps LOL)I will remind you to go and pick up your copy.

Thanks to Kelly at the MWD K9 Memorial for forwarding this very important article, "Canines for Combat Veteran's Program"

Through the generous efforts of many, Sergeant Roland Paquette and Specialist Raymond Hubbard have received Service dogs to assist them.  Six more veterans have been interviewed and are on our waiting list.  Our goal for this year is to increase our Assistance Dog placements to sixty; ten for disabled veterans.  

We have hired a new trainer and prison pup trainer to facilitate more placements and are opening more Prison PUP Partnerships to increase the number of puppies in our puppy program.  On May 1st our 11th partnership will open at the Caledonia Work Camp in St. Johnsbury, VT.

With Volunteers from Until a second training room has been built and a new walker dog harness is being developed.

An informational brochure about our Canines for Combat Veterans program has been sent to all the VA hospitals in New England, NY and PA.  In-service programs have been presented to the doctors, staff and veterans at Fort Bragg, and Camp Lejune and we have informed alliances with the VFWs and the Blue Star Mom's.  

We still have a lot to do but we accept the challenge.  We are honored to place these Service dogs with those who serve.

Thank you for your support of or Canines for Combat Veterans Program.

Please visit the page at the web address below:

http://www.neads.org/services_new/military_dog.shtml

AS PROMISED PICTURES OF LEX WITH THE FAMILY ON THAT GLORIOUS DAY!!!

T
Thank you so much Brian who is Cpl. Dustin Lee's Uncle for the use of these amazing pictures on that VERY AMAZING DAY!

I've heard from the family, and Lex is so happy at home with his family! 

Top photo is of Camryn with Lex, middle photo is the Cnn Interview, an the last photo is of the "Lee Family"

Check out this link at:  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/21/national/main3639034.shtml?source=search_story

Here at this site, you can view 3 different stories covered by CBS.  You will see a 30 second commercial on each one, but the story will follow afterwards.  If you missed this on TV, then you definitely have to give this a view!

Military Working Dog Lex is FINALLY going home!

For the past nine months, The Lee Family has been trying to adopt Lex.  Cpl. Dustin Lee was killed this past March, and he had a bond with Lex that was simply beautiful! When Dustin was killed, they had to literally pull Lex off of Dustin, so the Medics could treat him. After nine months of petitions, etc. today was the "official" adoption!  If you've turned on CNN, or The Early Morning Show, surely you've seen this amazing and heart warming story.  The story will also air tomorrow on Katic Couric's show.

This is the first time a Military Working Dog was able to be adopted by a family prior to being released from the Military.

WELCOME HOME LEX, AND AS DUSTIN CALLED HIM "LEX MEX."  MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!!!  

I will be posting pictures of Lex and the family very soon!  I've been so fortunate to be able to correspond with this "truly amazing" family!  Words can't describe how happy I am today that Lex is home with the family!

Author of "A Few Good Women" has passed away

I am fortunate enough to work with Vikke who is the daughter of Inga Violet Frederiksen Ferris.  Inga passed away on November 17, 2007.

I didn't get to meet this amazing woman, but I've started reading her book, "A Few Good Women:  Memoirs of a World War II Marine," and it's a wonderful book!

During WWII, she worked grinding radio crystals then joined the Marine Corps as an aviation machinist.

Before she passed away, my friend and Marine K-9 Handler(Lcpl. Granado)was lucky enough to correspond with Inga via email.  I even got her to sign her book for him before she passed!  

This book can be found at www.amazon.com

RIP Inga  

A quote from Inga:

"Have a good life...I DID!"