By: Lisa LaFontaine, WHS President and CEO
It is my honor to announce the launch of the Washington Humane Society’s (WHS) “Dog Tags”, a very unique and inspiring program which brings together wounded Soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center with homeless dogs in the District who are awaiting new homes.
Throughout my career in animal welfare I’ve had a special place in my heart for animal assisted therapy – there is nothing more satisfying than enabling people and animals in need of healing to come together. When I arrived at the WHS last year, I saw that the Soldiers from Walter Reed – located just a few blocks from our Georgia Avenue animal shelter – would magnetically gravitate toward our dogs as they were out daily walks with our staff.
Shortly thereafter I had the privilege of touring the hospital and campus at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I was impressed by the amazing facility, the compassion of the Walter Reed staff and most of all the bravery of the Soldiers in the midst of recovery.
Our Director of Training and Behavior, Kevin Simpson, shared my vision for a program whereby WHS could give back to the Soldiers at Walter Reed. Over the next several weeks, he and I visualized and fine-tuned concepts for our program that would benefit the soldiers in a meaningful way—and equally important, feasible and within the grasps of the new WHS Behavior & Training Department.
We decided to start with a three-tiered program which would teach the Soldiers the basics of dog training, with a certificate based curriculum that would give them an opportunity to pursue a future career in the field of animal training, care, and welfare. The beauty of the program is that in the process of gaining skills for themselves, the Soldiers provide the homeless animals in our care with training and nurturing as well.
After much preparation and extensive work with the fine staff at Walter Reed, we submitted a proposal and ultimately were given the green light to begin our WHS Dog Tags program. We were thrilled to see our ideas come to fruition when we launched the first level of the course just a few months ago.
The first group of Soldiers to volunteer in our program was comprised of both men and women who met at the Behavior & Learning Center twice a week to learn and study animal behavior and training. Each tier of the program is certificate based and lasts for eight weeks, sequentially building upon the prior level. Upon completion of the 3rd level the soldiers will have the tools and skill-sets necessary to pursue a professional career working with animals. We are now thrilled to welcome our second group of Soldiers starting in the program next week – and we are told there is a significant waiting list.
I’ve always believed that in addition to adopting out animals and protecting them from cruelty, it's important to have programs that bring people and animals together in meaningful ways. Please help us to continue to do this important work and make a donation today by visiting www.washhumane.org.
It is indeed a wonderful gesture to bring the wounded soldiers together at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It feels really heartening.
Posted by: DHB | May 17, 2009 at 11:01 AM