For many people, Veterans Day is just another day off work or school when the banks are closed, but Veterans Day is much more than that for millions of Americans. It’s a day to commemorate the sacrifices made by American heroes who served in the military and defended our country and freedom. To us at Northwest Battle Buddies, it’s an opportunity to bring you more information about Veterans with PTSD and how our professionally trained dogs help them live fulfilling lives.
“IT’S BEEN LIFE-CHANGING, BUT COLT DIDN’T JUST CHANGE MY LIFE. HE SAVED IT.”
For many people, Veterans Day is just another day off work or school when the banks are closed, but Veterans Day is much more than that for millions of Americans. It’s a day to commemorate the sacrifices made by American heroes who served in the military and defended our country and freedom. To us at Northwest Battle Buddies, it’s an opportunity to bring you more information about Veterans with PTSD and how our professionally trained dogs help them live fulfilling lives.
Take our team of Matt & Colt- before he was paired with Colt, Matt spent almost 20 years after his time in the Marines being uncomfortable going about his daily life. Even going to the grocery store was a struggle. “In 2021, my whole world came crashing down. I had never really thought about getting a service dog, but then I found Northwest Battle Buddies,” Matt said. “It’s been life-changing, but Colt didn’t just change my life. He saved it.”
When asked when he realized Colt was going to change his life for the better, Matt elaborated, “The first night I took Colt home with me, I woke up in the middle of the night to him sitting on my stomach, paws on either side of my head licking my face. He saw me in distress and knew he needed to take care of me immediately.” Northwest Battle Buddies dogs are professionally trained to serve their Veterans faithfully by mitigating the symptoms of PTSD, and they become a lifeline to freedom and independence.
This year, we have set an ambitious goal for our Veterans Day fundraising; we want to raise enough money to fund a new Veteran team. Our mission – One Day, One Dog – help us raise $35,000 to honor one Veteran and gift a professionally trained service dog to a deserving American hero. But this is only the start of what we are trying to accomplish through this holiday season. 2023 is going to be an incredible year for matching amazing dogs with Veterans in need with your help.
Many Veterans return home with lasting effects from their time served; 11-20% of post-9/11 veterans have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within a given year. For these Veterans, PTSD symptoms can disrupt their lives, making it hard to continue daily activities. Northwest Battle Buddies gifts professionally trained service dogs to Veterans battling PTSD, helping them regain their freedom and independence. While there is no known cure, service dogs can help reduce PTSD symptoms with life-changing results. With a canine Battle Buddy by their side, Veterans with PTSD can regain their freedom and independence.
This November 11th, we ask that you help support our Veterans in a meaningful way that will allow our heroes to live their lives again. Donate to our One Day One Dog campaign and help us raise $35,000 to sponsor another Veteran team.
