Michelle
10-13-2006, 09:35 PM
Dog Day Set To Help Disabled Vets (http://www.queenstribune.com/news/1160726600.html)
By IMAN KHAN
GIs who come back from war with disabilities such as a loss of hearing or mobility, and who find that they are often without help in their daily lives, may just be in luck thanks to a dog run taking place in Kissena Park this Saturday, Oct. 14.
The dog run’s mission is for dog lovers everywhere to come out and raise money in an effort to provide disabled service veterans with services that are able to assist them in their daily living. The event was organized by local firefighter Michele Fitzsimmons of Ladder 138 in Corona.
As part of a leadership course she is taking through Landmark Education, an organization in the field training and development, Fitzsimmons was tasked with the job of going out in one of the many communities she belongs to, and executing a project that inspired her.
“I had a couple of friends go over to Iraq, and luckily they’ve come back safe and sound,” Fitzsimmons said. “Still, I felt like I wanted to do something for returning veterans and everything that they’ve sacrificed.”
For the event, Fitzsimmons partnered up with the Kissena Park Civic Association and the National Education for Assistance Dog Service(NEADS), a non-profit organization established in 1976 that trains and provides rescued dogs and donated puppies to assist people who are deaf or physically disabled in leading more independent lives at
work, at home and at school. These assistance dogs become an extension of their owners and bring security, freedom, independence and relief from social isolation to their human partners.
“As a daughter of a war veteran, I know firsthand a lot of the problems these fellows come back with,” said Beverly McDermott, president of Kissena Park Civic Association. “I know how much these dogs can do both mentally and physically – they fill a void that humans cannot.”
McDermott also said that she really hopes this can be turned into an annual event because she really feels as though the community has a responsibility to care for one another, especially the veterans, who often come back with drastically altered lives. Regardless of what one’s position on war is, McDermott feels that the community should really rally behind these men and women, as does Fitzsimmons.
“I’m a dog lover and I know how much fulfillment I get from having one,” Fitzsimmons said. “To give a service veteran a companion as well as a dog that can assist them in their daily living makes me feel like I can make a difference in their lives.”
To register or contribute to the dog run, call Fitzsimmons at (917) 748-9344 or visit www.petsforveterans.org.
By IMAN KHAN
GIs who come back from war with disabilities such as a loss of hearing or mobility, and who find that they are often without help in their daily lives, may just be in luck thanks to a dog run taking place in Kissena Park this Saturday, Oct. 14.
The dog run’s mission is for dog lovers everywhere to come out and raise money in an effort to provide disabled service veterans with services that are able to assist them in their daily living. The event was organized by local firefighter Michele Fitzsimmons of Ladder 138 in Corona.
As part of a leadership course she is taking through Landmark Education, an organization in the field training and development, Fitzsimmons was tasked with the job of going out in one of the many communities she belongs to, and executing a project that inspired her.
“I had a couple of friends go over to Iraq, and luckily they’ve come back safe and sound,” Fitzsimmons said. “Still, I felt like I wanted to do something for returning veterans and everything that they’ve sacrificed.”
For the event, Fitzsimmons partnered up with the Kissena Park Civic Association and the National Education for Assistance Dog Service(NEADS), a non-profit organization established in 1976 that trains and provides rescued dogs and donated puppies to assist people who are deaf or physically disabled in leading more independent lives at
work, at home and at school. These assistance dogs become an extension of their owners and bring security, freedom, independence and relief from social isolation to their human partners.
“As a daughter of a war veteran, I know firsthand a lot of the problems these fellows come back with,” said Beverly McDermott, president of Kissena Park Civic Association. “I know how much these dogs can do both mentally and physically – they fill a void that humans cannot.”
McDermott also said that she really hopes this can be turned into an annual event because she really feels as though the community has a responsibility to care for one another, especially the veterans, who often come back with drastically altered lives. Regardless of what one’s position on war is, McDermott feels that the community should really rally behind these men and women, as does Fitzsimmons.
“I’m a dog lover and I know how much fulfillment I get from having one,” Fitzsimmons said. “To give a service veteran a companion as well as a dog that can assist them in their daily living makes me feel like I can make a difference in their lives.”
To register or contribute to the dog run, call Fitzsimmons at (917) 748-9344 or visit www.petsforveterans.org.