Transcript Document

Title Page
WAGS 4 TAGS:
Our Mission
Uniting our psychologically and
emotionally impaired Veterans
across North Carolina with
trained Companion, Emotional
Support and Psychiatric Service
Dogs rescued from kill shelters
so the two can heal in
unconditional love, trust and
loyalty.
Mission Statement
Striking Statistic
•North Carolina has the highest
pet kill rate in the nation.
•300,000 pets are killed annually
in North Carolina. That’s
equivalent to 5,769 pets a week,
824 pets a day, or 103 pets an
hour.
•Many shelters in North Carolina
still use the inhumane gas
chamber.
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Striking Statistic
•North Carolina is home to 5 large
military bases.
•With the additions of US Army
Forces Command and US Army
Reserve Command, Fort Bragg will
be the largest Army Installation in
the world.
•We have the 3rd largest military
population in the US next to
California and Texas, with a total
of 765,900 Veterans.
•North Carolina is known as the
“Most Military Friendly State”.
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Military Instillations
Statistic Map
Military Bases in North
Carolina
North Carolina Veteran’s
Administration Hospitals
•North Carolina has 4 VA
hospitals and 12 outpatient
outposts
VA Hospital Map
Striking Statistic
•Approximately 30% of service
members develop PTSD and/or
TBI within a year of leaving
combat.
•Veterans who screen positive
for PTSD were more than four
times as likely to endorse
suicidal ideation relative to
non-PTSD veterans.
Striking Statistic
Mistrust
Hopelessness
Distress
PTSD
Severe Shame
Anxiety
Aggression Anger
Self
destructive
behavior
Guilt
•PTSD and TBI may
appear singularly or
comorbidly.
• Symptoms vary
considerably;
sometimes the
signs are obvious
and sometimes
they're not so easy
to see.
PTSD/TBI
Alienation
Unease
Flashbacks
Nightmares
Numbness
•Re-experiencing: Such as
flashbacks, nightmares and
intrusive memories;
•Avoidance/Numbing: Including
a feeling of estrangement from
others; and,
•Hyperarousal/Hypervigilance:
Including feelings of being
constantly in danger.”
Our Veterans have been there for us.
Now they need our help.
Our Veterans have
been there for us
Piecing it
together
• Volumes of
documentation and
personal
experiences
suggest that
canines have a
therapeutic effect,
positively
influencing our
psychological and
emotional wellbeing and our
quality of life.
Pieci
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toget
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“ Recent research suggests
that people with
psychiatric disabilities
can benefit significantly
from assistive
animals…Emotional
support animals have
been proven extremely
effective at ameliorating
the symptoms of …post
traumatic stress
disorder…” (Judge David
Bazelon /Center for Mental Health
Law, Washington, DC)
Recent Research
Quote
Canine Therapy
Canine Therapy
Pictures
“…Animals that provide
emotional support have
been recognized as
necessary assistance
animals under the
reasonable
accommodation
provision of the FHAct
and Section 504.” (US
Department of HUD, ‘New ADA
Regulations & Assistance
Animals as Reasonalbe
Accommodations under the
Fair Housing Act, February 17,
2011)
Animals provide emotional support quote
Wags 4 Tags firmly believes that
our highly trained Companion,
Emotional Support and Psychiatric
Service Dogs become facilitators
for the Veterans we serve,
becoming their “windows” and
“doors” to the civilian world
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What we do
• We qualify the needs of the Veteran
thoroughly
• We have partnered with Animal
Shelters across NC and vet a dog
that meets the attributes required
by the Veteran
• We train the canine to the level of
service needed by the Veteran
• We provide necessary equipment
Veteran may need for his or her new
canine
• We provide follow-up training as
needed
• The dog is neutered, up to date on
vaccines and is microchipped and is
up to date on heartworm and
flea/tick medicine.
• We ensure the safety and well-being
of the dog with a Home Visit we
conduct;
• Should the Veteran’s circumstances
change for whatever reason, the dog
is returned to us for safeguarding.
W
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Why Wags 4 Tags?
• We have highly
trained animal
handlers (trainers &
foster homes)
• We offer different
levels of training,
based on the
Veteran’s needs
• We operate solely in
North Carolina
• There is no cost
whatsoever to the
Veteran
•We will conduct
clinical research
through Duke
University that will
support the
findings of the
healing effects that
canine therapy has
to Veterans with P
TSD, TBI and other
unseen injuries.
•Our Organization’s
President, has been
there, and because
of his dog Sadie, is
here today.
How to help:
•Join our sponsors and
partners:
the County Shelters, the NC
Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, the Rotary International
Clubs in supporting us!
•Provide us with contacts of
Veterans that need help
•Volunteer your time
•Volunteer your talent
•Sponsor a fund-raiser
•Financial Donation
CONTACT WAGS 4 TAGS
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www.wags4tags.org
Ronnie Sadoski: 919-475-2076 or
[email protected];
Terri Stober: 919-522-0575 or
[email protected]
AND LET’S LET OUR SHELTER PETS AND
VETERANS KNOW THAT WE HAVE NOT
FORGOTTEN THEM…
•Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson lay in a coffin, draped
in an American flag, in front of a tearful
audience mourning his death in Afghanistan.
Soon an old friend appeared, and like a fellow
soldier on a battlefield, his loyal dog refused to
leave him behind.” (S. Stump, 8/25/2011)