Sponsored by Nestle Purina
Pets and persons are higher collectively.
That fact is our north star right here at Purina. And that star has offered a easy however shiny and clear information as we’ve embraced and championed causes which might be true to our mission. That contains the Dog Chow Service Dog Salute Program – the place these exceptional dogs are greater than pets, however heroes themselves.
Supporting U.S. troops isn’t new to Dog Chow. In reality, it goes again to Dog Chow’s creation, as a nod to the “chow lines” that sustained American service members throughout World War I. But what was as soon as part of our heritage grew to become a part of our mission in 2018. The energy of animals isn’t extra obvious than while you see the profound influence of a service canine on a person in want. And there are roughly 3.6 million army veterans in want affected by post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD) which will profit from the lifesaving impacts of a service canine. Yes, lifesaving. PTSD service dogs have demonstrated the flexibility to cut back the severity of PTSD signs and suicidal behaviors.
That is why it’s significantly heartbreaking to study that simply 1% of these in want who search a service canine obtain one every year. The cost and time it takes to coach every service canine – roughly two years and $20,000-$50,000 – has put lots of them out of attain to veterans in want.
We need to change that. Dog Chow has donated greater than $1.2 million to service canine organizations for the reason that inception of Service Dog Salute. These {dollars} assist the very specialised coaching required for PTSD service dogs. From recognizing and performing as much as 20 duties that vary from lowering panic assaults to alerting veterans of potential triggers, and a lot extra, these service dogs have crucial variations from emotional assist, remedy or companion animals.
PTSD service dogs are exceptional and uncommon. And our honest hope is to extend consciousness of the necessity whereas additionally celebrating the large influence these service dogs and their veterans make. As a retailer, you possibly can assist us do this. Service Dog Salute is highlighted on each bag of Dog Chow Complete that arrives to retail shops, however you can even contact your Purina gross sales rep to study extra about particular Service Dog Salute in-store signage, social and digital property, extra merchandise and extra to drive consideration for this system.
And at Purina, we need to lengthen consciousness past the cabinets. Even into the theater! This 12 months, Dog Chow is introducing an all-new Service Dog Salute class within the New York Dog Film Festival which invitations filmmakers to discover the distinctive methods PTSD service dogs rework the lives of the army veterans they serve. If you or somebody you recognize is a visible storyteller, go to www.DogChow.com/filmfestival to study extra. And if you’re merely only a fan, keep tuned to that very same web site this fall to seek out out how one can see and share the successful movie.
There are a number of methods to get entangled. Our hope is that you simply discover a minimum of one. Because it’s along with your assist that we will advance our mission and produce extra veterans and PTSD service dogs collectively.