Pasco Animal Services Helps Veterans Find Service Pets

LAND O’ LAKES, FL – Pasco County Animal Services is giving some of its shelter dogs and area veterans a new “leash” on life by teaming up with K9 Partners for Patriots.

The Brooksville-based nonprofit organization helps veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury and Military Sexual Trauma through training and caring for their own service dog.

K9 Partners for Patriots uses a group service dog training technique which the organization says helps veterans integrate back into a social environment which helps improve family and marital relationships as well as revitalizing old friendships and develop new ones.

The service dogs, equipment and the 19-week training course are available to participating veterans at no cost.

Through a partnership with K9 Partners for Patriots, Pasco County Animal Services’ shelter dogs are considered as candidates for service dog training. The dogs qualify if they’re able to pick up the scent of adrenaline.

If they can, Animal Services staff select dogs based on assessments perform at the shelter. K9 Partners for Patriots staff further assess dogs for temperament and service dog potential.

As of Nov. 7, Pasco County Animal Services placed more than 15 dogs with K9 Partners for Patriots.

For more information on K9 Partners for Patriots, visit www.k9partnersforpatriots.com. For more information non Pasco County Animal Services, visit www.pascocountyfl.net/pas.

Image and video via K9 Partners for Patriots YouTube channel