Better Lives for Shelter Dogs and Veterans
Gerri Bigler, Program Coordinator, Relationship Marketing, Animal Health Division, Bayer U.S.
Once you’ve served in the military — even if you never went abroad or saw combat — your life is changed forever. As a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard, I feel a personal responsibility to advocate for and support U.S. veterans. It’s very easy to get tied up in our day-to-day lives and forget that there are young men and women risking everything, every day, far from home, in support of our country. Many come home wounded, not just physically, but also mentally. We cannot even begin to imagine some of the things they’ve experienced or seen.
But by building a relationship between a veteran and a very special dog, veterans have the opportunity to change their lives for the better. I’ve worked with the K9s For Warriors program since Bayer became a partner in 2014. This program takes shelter dogs and trains them to become service dogs for veterans suffering from PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or traumatic brain injury. When I hear their stories and see the positive impact these dogs have on veterans, it truly touches my heart. Time and again, I’ve heard veterans say that their dog literally saved their life. The beautiful thing is that since the dogs in the program are shelter dogs, the “saving” is mutual.
Recently, I had the honor of visiting the K9s For Warriors training facility in Florida. The dedication, care and support provided to the veterans and to the dogs is invaluable. I’m proud to work for a company that supports such an awesome organization.
