Dennis Zilinski Memorial Fund Pays For Six Service Dogs To Vets

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — This past Veterans Day, Nov. 11, the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund sponsored the training of six service dogs that will go to veterans.

The service dogs will be paired with disabled American veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or brain traumatic injury. The dogs were given out through the group K-9s for Warriors, a Florida-based group with the goal of ending veteran suicide.

The donation was made in memory of Army Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II, a Middletown native who was killed in action by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2005. Zilinski is a graduate of Christian Brothers Academy. From there, he graduated from West Point and enrolled in the U.S. Army during the first troop surge in the Iraq War.

It is extraordinarily expensive to train service dogs: Service dogs such as these are trained at the rate of $25,000 per dog. To date, the Zilinski Memorial Fund has sponsored more than 100 service dogs.

“We honor our son Dennis by saving the lives of veterans who are struggling. Especially now with COVID restrictions, depression, anxiety and fear intensify for veterans with PTSD, making the need for service dogs even more critical," said Dennis’ mother, Marion Zilinski.

"We want our American veterans to know we are here to help."

Zilinski grew up in Middletown, swam on the varsity swim team for CBA and was then nominated to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated in 2004.

After graduation from Ranger School, he deployed to Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division on September 17, 2005.

On November 19, 2005, only two months into his deployment, Zilinski was killed by a roadside bomb that went off near Bayji, 155 miles north of Baghdad.

Zilinski was one of the four American soldiers killed that day by the same roadside bomb. He was only 23 years old.

Board member Quentin Walsh personally delivered the check from the Zilinski Memorial Fund to K-9s for Warriors in Ponte Vedra, Florida.

“We must support our brave men and women when they return home, especially now that their normal daily routines have been disrupted by the pandemic. This program saves the lives of both shelter dogs and our disabled American veterans,” said Walsh.

He and his wife Ellen have personally sponsored two service dogs, Sigma and Snickers, in the past through the Zilinski Fund.

Anyone struggling with PTSD or any mental health issues is urged to call 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Veterans interested in a service dog are encouraged to email The Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund at runwithdennis@yahoo.com. Lt Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund, a 501(c)(3) a non-profit organization P.O. Box 124, Adelphia, NJ 07710 732-431-1713 www.RunwithDennis.org Runwithdennis@yahoo.com

The Zilinski fund also sponsors scholarships to Zilinski’s alma mater, Christian Brothers Academy and the area's local girls' Catholic school Trinity Hall.