What better way to celebrate Veterans Day than by supporting a local organization that helps disabled veterans nationwide?
Patriot Paws is a Rockwall-based nonprofit that trains and donates service dogs to American veterans with mobile disabilities. Founded in 2006 by certified trainer Lori Stevens, Patriot Paws restores freedoms to those wounded while serving our country.
“Our dogs can open and close doors, turn lights on or off, help with chores, provide bracing to stand or sit, take off shoes and socks, get help in an emergency – not to mention they make wonderful companions.”
For veteran Mike McHale, it’s about second chances. Being confined to a wheelchair no longer prevents him from living life.
“My dog Cappuccino has changed my world. Before, it was like I was invisible; nobody would talk to me. Cappuccino became the ice breaker. He not only got me back in the game, he made me visible again,” McHale said.
But training service dogs is an endeavor that is as expensive as it is admirable.
“It takes 12 to 18 months to properly train one service dog and costs $20,000 to $30,000,” said Stevens.
Patriot Paws has placed 10 service dogs so far this year with 23 more in training.
“We used to train two to four dogs a year, but since we partnered with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice teaching offenders how to train the dogs, we’re now able to train three times as many dogs,” she said. “We work with 24 female offenders at one time from two correctional facilities in Gatesville.”
Stevens says working with prisoners has brought her work full circle.
“Initially, it was about rescuing and training the dogs; then it was about working with the veterans, and now it’s also about helping to rehabilitate offenders.”
“What we do touches and affects the dogs, the veterans, the offenders and all of their families as well. We’re doing everything we were before, plus we’re helping offenders learn a trade and give back to the community,” she said.
As a result of the success with TDCJ, Patriot Paws will be hiring a newly-released prisoner.
“Statistics show that the recidivism rate for offenders is 79 percent, and it’s because no one is willing to give these people a second chance,” said Stevens. “We gave this young woman training, a job, and since no one would rent to her, a place to live.”
A fundraiser is planned for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Joe Willy’s. Stevens hopes this will bring in enough money to keep Patriot Paws going for another ten months.
“I will be at Joe Willy’s Nov. 7 to celebrate how much Patriot Paws has done for me,” veteran McHale said.
For more information, visit patriotpaws.org or call 972-772-3282.
