Animal Welfare Professionals

As Memorial Day approaches, we are reminded of the courage and sacrifice of our military heroes, both human and canine. This holiday provides an opportunity for reflection, gratitude, and space to honor those who have served and continue to serve our nation.

To honor, we will pause our next Weekly Community Conversations call on May 27, 2024 to honor Memorial Day. This break allows us all to take a moment to remember and pay tribute to the brave individuals, and military working dogs who have dedicated their lives to protecting our freedoms.

For those who engage through learning and reading, we have put together a few resources that highlight the extraordinary contributions of military working dogs:

• History of Military Working Dogs: Discover the rich history and vital roles that military working dogs have played throughout history. Learn more about their incredible contributions to our armed forces here.
• Military Working Dogs Teams National Monument: Visit the Airman Heritage Foundation to learn about the Military Working Dogs Teams National Monument, which honors the heroic deeds of these faithful service animals. Find out more here.
• Sargent Stubby – The War Hero "Pit Bull": Get to know Sargent Stubby, the most decorated war dog of World War I, whose story has inspired many. A breed most often facing discrimination, Sgt. Stubby provides a historic view on perception of looks versus character. Explore his story on StubbySquad.com and watch the animated film "Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero" on IMDB.

Want to jump into the conversation? Check out this previous discussion on the Forum, "Does Your Organization Do Anything Special to Support Veterans?" where organizations talk about things they do to support veterans in their communities. Does your organization do something special, feel free to jump start the thread with a post and add yours!

Many organizations are working to support veterans in unique ways. Organizations such as "Paw for Life", "Pets for Vets", and "Dogs for Better Lives with Operation Kindness" are working to save more pets while creating lasting, beneficial partnerships between veterans and their canine companions by making these types of matches much more accessible.

Our community will resume our Weekly Community Conversations the following week. Join us on Monday, June 3, for an insightful discussion on Parvovirus Treatment. We'll hear from Dr. Brian DiGangi from the University of Florida, Dr. Alyssa Comroe from Peggy Adams Rescue League, and Sherri Stankewitz and Sarah-Jane Montano from The Fix Project to review new decision-making tools and treatment options, including the Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody (CPMA). This session is one you don't want to miss as these experts break it down for us.

We look forward to seeing you then! Have a great week!