Service Dog Solutions

03/13/2024

Today we celebrate K9 Veterans Day!

Smoky, a four-pound Yorkshire Terrier, proves that war dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Found in the New Guinea jungle by an American soldier during WWII, Smoky was later sold to another soldier, Corporal William A. Wynne from Cleveland, OH. Wynne and Smoky stayed together for the next two years of the war, and the little dog survived the heat, limited food rations, typhoons, air raids, combat missions and even a 30ft parachute jump (she had her own special parachute). Wynne credits his dog with saving his life by guiding him away from incoming fire on a transport ship.

Smoky is also now recognized as the first therapy dog, as she spent many hours both during the war and back home visiting veterans and entertaining them with the varied collections of tricks that Wynne taught her. After the war, Smoky and Wynne made numerous TV appearances together, performing tricks and telling their amazing story. Smoky lived in Cleveland with Wynne and his family until her death in 1957 at age 14. On Veterans Day in 2005, a memorial for Smoky was unveiled in the Rocky Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks in Lakewood, Ohio. The statue features the tiny dog sitting inside a combat helmet, smiling her trademark smile.

12/30/2023

⏰There is still time to help those who need a service dog!⌛️🦮 Donations today and tomorrow are tax deductible and will go directly to placing 🐕‍🦺🦮 service dogs to those who truly need them! 🐶❤️ Please follow the link to our webpage and donate so our work can continue in 2024! www.servicedogsolutions.org

12/29/2023

Huddie got to do a little shopping at PetSmart! These public outings are getting him and Rip (not pictured) ready to go home and be someone’s service dog!

12/18/2023

🐕‍🦺We share a lot about the happy day a Veteran gets his service dog but it is very important to share why we need to place these dogs with our Heros! 🇺🇸

🪖Some days are easier than others but those hard days are so hard.🪖

Solid advice. If you have a Combat Veteran in your family and you don’t like their moods and behavior around the holidays; please consider these six things:
1.) Your combat veteran has served in countries where people are blessed to receive a tattered pair of shoes or have clean water to drink; he/she no longer lives the “first world illusion” and no longer cares that if you buy one play station you can get a second one for fifty percent off. In fact, they find it hard to appreciate any of the gluttonous commercialism and overindulgence that permeates American holidays. Standing watch, boring as it was, had so much more purpose than going to the mall.
2.) Your Combat Veteran is thankful for the most basic things; not thankful for mega-sales and million dollar parades. They are thankful to be alive; thankful to have survived both the wars far away and the wars they struggle with inside.
3.) Your Combat Veteran is thankful that it wasn't them that got killed, but their celebrations are forever complicated by guilt and loss over those that were. Some of the most thankful times in their life were some of the scariest. Their feelings of thanks and celebration often conjure memories that are equally painful.
4.) Your Combat Veteran is not like you anymore. At some point, for some period of time, their entire life boiled down to just three simple things: when will I eat today, when will I sleep today, and who will I have to kill or will try to kill me today? They are not like you anymore.
5.) Your Combat Veteran does not need a guilt-trip or a lecture; they already feel detached in their grief while others so easily embrace the joy of the season. They need understanding and space; empathy not sympathy.
6.) Your Combat Veteran does love his/her family and is thankful for the many blessings in their life…and they are thankful for you.
To all brothers and sisters of the uniform, know that we all struggle with one thing or another but as we go into this holiday season, reach out to those you love. You didn't fight alone on the battlefield and you don't have to fight alone at home. 🙏🏻

Veterans Crisis Line. DIAL 988 then press 1

Copied from a friend…

11/28/2023

As you gear up for your holiday season 🌲🌲please take a minute and consider helping🎁 a veteran or child who is in need of a service dog 🐕‍🦺! The holidays can be an especially hard time for those who are waiting and with your help we can get them the help they need faster than any other organization! We, currently, have children and out of state Veterans who are waiting for their dog! Can you help? Please follow this link and consider giving a gift to those who are waiting!

https://www.servicedogsolutions.org/donate.html

11/27/2023

This is the best source of information regarding the “mystery respiratory illness” being seen in dogs!

11/18/2023

11/11/2023

Happy Veterans Day to all who have served!

If you are a Veteran or know one who suffers from PTSD, please reach out! We are accepting applications for service dog placements!

11/10/2023

Earlier this month, 🐕‍🦺 Rage, The Service Dog that Started it All, peacefully crossed the rainbow ridge 🌈! She started her life as a high-speed, hunting and dock diving champ but spent the last 8 years devoted to her handler and leaves an enormous hole in the hearts she has left behind! Thankfully, Luka, is up for the challenge of mending hearts and carrying on Rage’s legacy!

10/04/2023

Who is joining us in celebrating World Animal Day!