Students From Howell Help Support Working Military Dogs

HOWELL, NJ — Dogs play a crucial role both in military deployments and in acting as service dogs for veterans who return home, often with physical injuries or emotional wounds

And, among its many programs, the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Fund, named for a young man from Howell who died in combat in 2005, also supports military dogs though its K9 Sgt. Denny Project, named for a K9 who served.

Three local high school students over the past few months have teamed up to raise funds and collect items for the Zilinski Memorial fund and for its K9 Sgt. Denny Project.

Brian Askin, a senior at Christian Brothers Academy, and Claire Hooper and Dante Morisi, seniors who attend Howell High School, have raised nearly $2,500 for the organization. They are all friends since childhood, Askin's mother, Kim, said.

The students ran a neighborhood drive in the spring to collect funds and supplies to send to active military working dogs. And they recently fundraised for the Zilinski fund during an annual neighborhood Thanksgiving walk in Howell, said Kim Askin.

With some of the funds raised, the students purchased pet supplies from The Hungry Puppy in Farmingdale for the working military dogs, she said.

The rest of the funds went toward a monetary donation to the Zilinski Memorial Fund, Kim Askin said.

Marion and Dennis Zilinski, formerly of Howell, have said the foundation was formed to honor their son, Dennis II, who was killed in action 17 years ago while serving in Iraq. Their son also had attended Christian Brothers Academy in Middletown, Kim Askin said.

Lt. Zilinski was killed in action in Bayji, Iraq on Nov. 19, 2005. He was 23.

Askin said the foundation does many fundraising and remembrance activities, such as Wreaths Across America and high school scholarships. She said the foundation also supports service dogs for veterans, in addition to sending supplies for military dogs around the world - as well as care packages to the troops themselves.

The foundation website has videos in which the Zilinskis discuss the importance of military dogs - and of their need to be supported by donations of food, treats, toys, water bowls - all things to keep the dogs happy and engaged as they do their important role in deployments.

Then, when many veterans return home, service dogs - often rescues - perform other tasks such as helping wounded veterans and giving intuitive emotional support. Supporting theses dogs is another area of the fund.

The mission of the foundation is to "honor the life and memory of Dennis by improving the morale and welfare of members of the United States Armed Forces and their families," according to its website.

"Additionally, by providing scholarships, the fund invests in the future of high school students who embody the leadership qualities and community spirit of Lt. Zilinski," the website says.

To learn more about the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Found, visit www.runwithdennis.org.