11 Dogs Rescued, to Be Trained as Therapeutic Dogs for Wounded Veterans

On Monday, Fort Bragg’s Stray Animal Control and Pet Adoption Facility partnered with the local organization, Fayetteville Animal Protection Society (FAPS) and Guardians of Rescue to ultimately provide wounded warriors and veterans with dogs.

Upon getting vaccines updates and micro-chipped at FAPS in Fayetteville, the 11 dogs will travel to Long Island, NY where they will undergo training and be matched up with a veteran.

Guardians of Rescue was established in 2011 to foster programs and activities that further the unique benefits of interaction between people and animals.

Robert Misseri, President of Guardians of Rescue traveled down from New York to Fort Bragg for their first rescue of canine friends.

“We are excited to be on the base of Fort Bragg today,” said Misseri. “Our goal is to get these animals into other soldier’s hands. We’ve seen just how much these animals mean to returning soldiers suffering from PTSD and other physical or mental issue that they’ve incurred.” 

John Wallace, Project Manager for Guardians of Rescue, leads the program and has served time in Afghanistan and experienced personal healing and restoration through his dog Tommy, over a medicine cabinet full of medication, that does not make him feel as good as his dog does.

Also on hand for the media event was Kenneth Chambers, an Iraq veteran from Jacksonville, FL who had experienced firsthand the therapeutic properties of having the companionship of his canine friend during his battle to recovery.

Fort Bragg’s Stray Animal Control and Pet Adoption Facility assistant manager, Jeff Hust, is also a veteran with a passion for seeing soldiers transition into the healing process through the use of therapeutic dogs. Hust has been working at the facility for a year and a half.