Local non-profit lends a paw to veterans in need
Wed, 12 Nov 2014 05:19:59 GMT — There is a new and local non-profit that gives service dogs to disabled veterans for free.
A special ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for Freedom Fidos, which rescues dogs from local animal shelters, trains them, and gives them to veterans.
The group has been around for four months, so part of Tuesday's ceremony showed off what the group had done so far through training demonstrations with the dogs.
"These dogs, they are such amazing creatures. A lot of times they really sense our energy, particularly with some of the adversities veterans go through, and they do provide healing, sometimes intangible healing that we may not realize," said Matt Burgess, who is a veteran and founder of the group.
Burgess also says the group trains the dogs to do various physical tasks for the veterans, depending on their needs. The training could take anywhere from six months to two years.
To learn more about Freedom Fidos, click here.
