Gatesville, TX, October 29, 2013 – Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet proudly announce the first two Warriors’ Angels certified Teams, Brandon/Buddy and William/Harley from Rolla, MO. The Warriors’ Angels (WA) program was initially introduced and implemented as a pilot program in Rolla, MO on 4/1/2013 close to the Fort Leonard Wood Warrior Transition Unit helping our service members going through the WTU who have been medically diagnosed with PTSD.

Brandon, Buddy and Susan
Brandon, Buddy and Susan

Susan Hinkle, the program’s Liaison volunteer representing Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet in MO oversees and covers the various coordination efforts involved between Team’s Handler (service member or veteran), their Primary Care Manager, the assigned program Trainer who provides the training in preparation for the program’s certification exam, and the AKC CGC certified Tester who provides the Warriors’ Angels Certification Exam.

Per Linda Spurlin-Dominik, Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet CEO, though there is no  official federal or state regulated certification exam at this time for these Teams, we established the Warriors’ Angels program and its Certification exam based on the standards and criteria defined by the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP.org) related to the ADA (American Disabilities Act) minimum 3 task that mitigates the Handler’s disability, the AKC Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) 10-step program, and the Assistance Dog International (ADI) member organizations’ recommended Public Access Test (PAT). Linda also on behalf of Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet Jess Storie, owner of Patriot Kennels, Inc., Waynesville, MO as the SW MO training service provider and Jessi Queen, owner of Canine Connections in Rolla, MO, who provides the program’s defined Certification Exam.

Organization Makes Plans to Expand Program to Texas

William_Harley_Susan-1
William, Harley and Susan

Plans are underway by the Organization’s national office to implement the Warriors’ Angels (WA) program around January 1, 2014 in the state of Texas covering south Texas in the San Antonio area and Central TX covering areas of Fort Hood, Austin, Killeen, Temple, Belton, and Waco via the Army’s Warrior Transition program and the VA medical centers. The pilot program for TX is being developed, promoted, and will be implemented via volunteers, Linda Spurlin-Dominik, President/CEO MVP Sanctuary – TX, Cherie Boudreaux, TX Director acting as the program’s TX Liaison covering San Antonio and surrounding area involved with recruiting qualified Trainers/Certification Exam Testers, fulfilling volunteer roles of Assistant Liaison, Outreach Liaison, and Admin Assistant.  Temporarily Linda will cover the Central TX area in recruiting volunteers (Assistant Liaison, Outreach Liaison roles) and overseeing the develop of the Warriors’ Angels “Training Facility” to be located at the Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet national office located in Coryell County south of Gatesville and west of Fort Hood.  In addition, Cherie and Linda will be involved with fundraising efforts.  The determined cost per Team averages $2500 and program related expenditures (promotional materials, outreach efforts, program volunteer ID cards, etc.) determined to be $1,000 per quarter.  Cherie and Linda goal is to raise up $25,000 by January 1, 2014 so we have sufficient funds on hand to take at least 10 applicants initially between San Antonio and Central Texas.

Questions related to the Warriors’ Angels program and how to make donations to the program (covering the states of MO and TX) may be directed to Linda via the program’s main email address: waap@guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org

The Warriors’ Angels program was developed in support of service members  and veterans who have been medically diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and official recommendation has been received by Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet that an Assistance Service Canine (ACS) will help improve the service member/veteran’s quality of life.

About Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet©:

An ALL volunteer 501c3 Military and Veterans Support Organization supporting our active duty military, wounded warriors, veterans, and their beloved pets with programs to ensure these beloved pets are reunited with their owners following a deployment (combat or peacekeeping or humanitarian mission) and/or an unforeseen medical and/or homeless hardship. Also supporting our service members and veterans diagnosed with PTSD needing a specially trained assistance canine enhancing the service member/veteran’s quality of life.