What Are Guardian Angles Medical Service Dogs For
Life Saving Dogs: Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs Building Newest Facility In McDonald
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- In a footling more ten years, an system called Guardian Angels has donated more 300 medical service dogs to U.S. veterans. Now, the group is planning a massive expansion in the Pittsburgh region.
"They are an angel to their recipient," says onetime state Auditor General Jack Wagner.
In addition to serving every bit a Pittsburgh City Council representative and half dozen-term country senator, Wagner was awarded a Purple Heart for his service in the Marine Corps in Vietnam.
Wagner is a huge supporter of Guardian Angels because he has seen beginning-manus what the service dogs practise.
"They actually save lives. Veterans have a suicide charge per unit of twice that of the general population. Guardian Angel Medical Service Dogs has provided over 300 dogs. In that location has non been a single suicide," Wagner said.
Three-year-sometime German Shepherd Spangle was matched with Dustin Schneider later on his fourteen-year career in the U.South. Army abruptly ended. He was in his fifth tour of duty with stops in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I was injured in my last tour," Schneider told KDKA's Rick Dayton. "I was in a roadside bomb explosion, then medically, I could no longer perform all of my military duties every bit needed."
Before he knew information technology, Schneider was back in united states of america with no job. Because he enlisted correct out of loftier school, he hadn't gone to college. Needless to say, enrolling in higher and going back to school was not easy.
"It was very hard for me to transition considering I was in an environment where I was dealing with professionals all the fourth dimension to go to college dealing with eighteen- and 19-year-olds," he said.
All the same it was more than the rigors of getting a university degree. It was about being out of the military and back in civilian life.
"I would have a hard time talking. I would have a difficult time beingness out," Schneider said. "I am normally a very forward-thinking person. I like to get out and endeavor to do things, but I just establish it easier for myself to lock myself away."
Watch: Dustin and Spangle on PTL --
The explosion that knocked Schneider out of the Army left him with concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries. He also suffers from Mail-Traumatic Stress Disorder. A friend who was a Marine told him most the process of being matched with a medical service dog. A year later on, Schneider is one of more than 4 dozen veterans in the Pittsburgh area receiving help from a Guardian Affections dog.
"We have already placed 40 to fifty dogs in the Pittsburgh region," says Wagner. "Another 12 to 15 [volition be placed] within the next year. Pittsburgh has been a great supporter. Pittsburgh has been a great supporter of this crusade."
- For more than information on Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, visit their website here.
Now, Guardian Angels has bought 102 acres in Allegheny and Washington County. The land is about the Montour Trail nigh McDonald, Pennsylvania. There the organization will build a second campus complete with fourteen buildings. Information technology will exist similar to their 35-acre facility in Florida that has been their base for more than ten years. Pittsburgh will be a second identify for Guardian Angels to brood and train dogs for veterans like Schneider. It will double the number of dogs they can provide each year – dogs that price virtually $25,000 each before they are prepare to go home with a veteran.
Schneider says it is worth every penny.
"My injuries you can't actually see from the exterior, but she [Spangle] helps me deal with them on the inside, and allows me to do that."
What Are Guardian Angles Medical Service Dogs For,
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/guardian-angels-medical-service-dogs-mcdonald-training-facility/
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