Media Contact:
Jack Wagner
412-352-1111
jwagner@medicalservicedogs.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs Awarded Economic Development Grant to Support Construction of New Campus in Washington County, Pennsylvania
WILLISTON, FLORIDA (Jan. 5, 2021) – Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs was recently awarded the Economic Development Grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to go toward the construction of its newest facility. Guardian Angels raises, trains and donates medical services dogs to veterans, first responders and civilians with permanent visible and invisible disabilities. These recipients suffer from PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, diabetic and seizure disorders, mobility issues and more. Over the last decade, the national nonprofit has placed more than 350 medical service dogs across 29 states with more than 40 recipients in Pennsylvania.
The grant comes as part of the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), which supports the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. The awarded funds will be used toward Guardian Angels newest campus in Washington County on a sprawling 102 acres just 20 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. This is Guardian Angels’ first facility outside of its home state of Florida and will serve as their campus for the Northeastern United States region. Naming rights, matching donations and other fundraising opportunities are still available, with the facility already receiving pledges for support from major donors.
“Guardian Angels’ new state-of-the-art facility will be a unique asset to our Commonwealth and undoubtedly provide critical support to those who are paired with service dogs throughout our state. It will also provide significant economic opportunity through new jobs in the construction phase of the project and throughout the facility’s lifetime, as well as provide vocational training for new careers in the pet industry,” said Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs would like to thank Governor Wolf. In addition, many thanks go to Senators Camera Bartolotta, Michele Brooks and Pam Iovino; Representatives Jason Ortitay, Valerie Gaydos and Tim O’Neal; Washington County Board of Commissioners Diana Irey Vaughn, Larry Maggi and Nick Sherman; and Washington County Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Bill McGowen for their support.
The Rocky Bleier Construction Group has been chosen by Guardian Angels as construction manager for this project.
“As a service-disabled veteran, I understand the plight of the veteran and the visible and invisible wounds many of our service men and women return home with,” said Rocky Bleier, former Pittsburgh Steelers halfback and owner of Rocky Bleier Construction Group. “Guardian Angels has changed the lives of so many individuals already, and I am proud to have my company involved in a project that will better the lives of so many more.”
“I am extremely grateful to Governor Wolf for his efforts in bringing economic development to the people of his Commonwealth by supporting our unique and lifesaving campus to be built in Pennsylvania,” said Carol Borden, founder and CEO of Guardian Angels. “We will be positively changing and even saving lives through our highly skilled medical service dogs, bringing new revenue opportunities to the state, and employing many people, as well as teaching new career paths through our apprenticeship and vocational programs.”
Guardian Angels’ medical service dogs undergo a rigorous two-year training process, written by Borden, which is one of the only college accredited curriculums on training service dogs in the United States and is also approved by the Veterans Administration. It costs more than $25,000 for the organization to raise and train a single medical service dog. These dogs are then donated to recipients free of charge.
To learn more or donate to Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, please visit Medical Service Dogs.
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs is a 501(C)3 headquartered in Florida that rescues, raises, trains, and then donates individually trained medical service dogs to veterans, first responders and others who suffer from disabilities including PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, seizure and diabetic disorders, mobility issues and much more. Over the past 10 years, Guardian Angels has paired more than 350 individually trained medical service dogs with recipients in 29 states and trained the #1 Service Dog in the US and the Top American Dog Hero of the year for 2019. With your help, the number of recipients paired can continue to grow. Visit our website at: Medical Service Dogs to get involved or learn more.
WJET News Reports on the Mutt Strut coming to Erie, PA.
PNC Bank and Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs is proud to announce the expansion of the Mutt Strut event for 2018! Thanks to WJET news for this coverage of our upcoming event.
If you’re interested in attending, volunteering, becoming a vendor or sponsoring this great family & pet friendly event, please visit our event page here: Event 2018 Mutt Strut Erie
Or visit the Mutt Strut’s very own website here: https://www.muttstrut4servicedogs.com
And be sure to follow the Mutt Strut on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/MuttStrut4GAMSD
We can’t WAIT to see you there!
Check out WJET’s coverage below:
Planning for the 2018 Mutt Strut is underway in Pittsburgh, and there was a big turnout for the kick off breakfast held on May 22, 2108. Information on upcoming Mutt Strut ticket sales will be available soon, watch our website and social media for details!
This year’s event looks to be even bigger and better than last year. Here’s the story from Jet 24:
I Can’t Describe the level of Awesome
On April 28, 2018, Guardian Angels Recipient, Captain John Kelly, (Ret.) and his Super Service Dog, Ranger were invited to announce the Pittsburgh Steelers 5th round draft pick on live television.
John shared with us some of his great behind the scenes photos and videos of his experience.
Thanks to Air Force Tech. Sgt. Liliana Moreno for this great article. Here’s an excerpt, originally printed for the United States Department of Defense website
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.
What if you are screaming for help, but no one can hear you? What if your life starts to crumble? Do you know where to turn or what options are available to veterans and service members?
Retired Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brandon Jones and his service dog, Apache, pose for a photograph in front of “Golden Bear,” a C-141B Starlifter aircraft static display at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., March 30, 2018. Jones served 11 years in the Air Force until he was medically retired due to post-traumatic stress disorder. He credits his service dog, Apache, for saving his life. Apache is trained to alert him during PTSD triggers and helps him ease through those anxieties. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lilliana Moreno
That is exactly how retired Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brandon Jones felt as he reached a breaking point in his military career and decided it was time to reach out to military agencies to get the help he desperately needed.
Jones reminisced on his childhood days growing up in Fayetteville, Georgia, and his love for airplanes.
“My dad would take me to the store and ask what I wanted for my birthday,” Jones said. “I would always pick an airplane. I just loved them so much.”
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
His love for airplanes is what brought him into the Air Force where, he honorably served for 11 years until he was medically retired due to post-traumatic stress disorder. The National Center for PTSD at the Department of Veterans Affairs describes PTSD as a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event.
Jones served seven tours overseas as a logistics planner in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
“The level of stress that the combat tours bring takes a toll on you mentally, physically and psychologically,” he said. “It was hard to come home and adjust.”
Jones said he found himself coming home and being angry all the time. All he wanted was to be left alone.“I’d often have nightmares and flashbacks about my comrades that didn’t get to come home with me,” he said. “I’d feel guilty, and I kept asking myself what I could have done differently?”
Read the article in it’s entirety here: https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1496838/service-dog-lends-war-veteran-a-helping-paw/
Guardian Angels travels to Michigan to Deliver Service Dogs to Veterans during COVID-19 crisis.
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs donates individually trained medical service dogs to veterans, first-responders and civilians who suffer from both visible and invisible disabilities including PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, diabetic & seizure disorders, mobility issues and more.
This year, Guardian Angels had planned its first group pairing for mid-March. This involves covering the travel for applicants from around the nation as they come to our headquarters in Williston, Florida for a 10-day intensive training process.
Typically, when people come to Guardian Angels, they’ve tried everything else. They’ve tried medications, counseling and many of our phone calls begin with “you’re my last hope”. That being said, it made cancelling our March pairing that much more heart-wrenching. Our applicants know that preparing their dog will take time, and when the time for pairing is near, the phrase “hope is everything” becomes literal.
Then, COVID-19 happened. Trips and travel cancelled – especially for those who were immuno-compromised. As we began calling applicants, letting them know we had to cancel, tears rolled down our faces, as our applicants begged us not to postpone what they’d already waited so long for.
We decided not to cancel, because we couldn’t break their hearts – but the situation worsened, and just days later, we again were forced to cancel the scheduled March pairing group. Heartbroken applicants who’d already waited so long for their miracle to arrive were crushed.
As people began being told to prepare for a more intensive lockdown, trainer Kathleen decided that she would take a leave of absence, to spend her quarantine time with family in Indiana.
Three of our scheduled March pairings were set to pair Michigan veterans in need. Kathleen met with Guardian Angels Founder & CEO, Carol Borden, and offered to take the 3 Michigan Dogs with her for a very modified special pairing with their waiting applicants.
These 3 special dogs were Babe, who’s training was sponsored by Stahl’s Automotive Museum; Sterling, sponsored by Grosse Pointe Board of REALTORS®, the city of Sterling Heights, Michigan and Jim Riehl Dodge. the 3rd dog is Catherine, sponsored by the Veterans Support Foundation.
The 3 anxious applicants met Kathleen at a hotel in Battle Creek Michigan, where they were, at last, united with their individually trained service dogs. Kathleen stayed for nearly 2 days to provide a condensed version of the pairing process, and Guardian Angels staff followed that brief training with additional instruction via phone and online sessions.
Due to the nature of the disability, our first recipient has chosen to remain anonymous at this time, but shared that “even after just hours together, my service dog, Catherine is already responding so positively to me, and I don’t even know how to tell you how life-changing this is, I just know this is going to be great”.
Also paired were Veteran, husband, and father of two young children, Gregg who was paired with Service Dog, Sterling, and Marine Corps Veteran Mindy who is now paired with Service Dog, Babe.
Thank you, to trainer Kathleen, who went above & beyond to ensure these veterans were able to be united with their service dogs, and to our entire team for their always outstanding work and commitment to serving our veterans, first responders and civilians in need.
Guardian Angels was thrilled to be recognized by Fox News in their “Good News” segment with Janice Dean on Wednesday, April 8th for pairing Service Dogs with Veterans.
Take a minute to watch the video segment below. We are the third story, beginning at about the 1:16 minute mark.
If you’d like to continue to support our mission of pairing individually trained medical service dogs with veterans, first-responders and civilians in need click HERE.
Please enjoy the photo gallery of trainer Kathleen’s journey to Michigan, and the photos she snapped of our dogs, meeting their Recipients for the first time.
How Exciting!
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs’ Recipient, John and his Service Dog, Ranger have been chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers to announce the 5th draft pick in this year’s NFL Draft!
John is a veteran of Afghanistan, an Army Captain, and Bronze Star recipient. He has been chosen as part of the NFL’s Salute to Service Program.
John was lucky enough to have a ceremonial pairing with Ranger done during a Steelers game in 2016, and he must have made quite the impression! The Steelers confirmed the rumors today, and you can read their full press release here:
Read the Steeler’s full release here: http://www.steelers.com
Here’s the NFL Release mentioning John & Service Dog, Ranger: https://nflcommunications.com
Thank you to everyone who sponsored, donated and attended our “For the Love of Dogs & Chocolate” event at Swamp Head Brewery on February 11, 2018.
With special thanks to Swamp Head Brewery, 98.5 KTK, Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. and Astor Chocolate.
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs wins 2018 Vetty Award in Mental Health Category.
The good news is spreading! WCJB, TV-20 out of Gainesville, Florida covers the story of our Academy of United States Veterans “VETTY” Award, accepted by our Founder & CEO, Carol Borden on January, 20, 2018 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Borden said: We’re just so proud of everyone connected with our organization. From staff to volunteers and foster trainers, everyone involved truly cares about making a difference for our veterans and first-responders. It is a great honor to have our work with veterans recognized by the Academy of United States Veterans”.
If you’d like to see the full acceptance speech, you can view it here: Vetty Award Acceptance Speech 2018
The Ilene Silverman Show
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs Founder and CEO, Carol Borden; along with Fundraising & Events Coordinator, Rachel Edwing were honored to be recent guests on the Ilene Silverman Show.
In watching this terrific 30 minute interview, you can learn a great deal about our organization and ways to get involved!
If you’d like to become a part of our Foster Training Family, please click here: Foster family
To become a volunteer at our Williston, Florida facility: Volunteer
If you’d like to purchase tickets to “For the Love of Dogs & Chocolate”:Love Dogs Chocolate
If you’d like to make a donation to our program, please visit our donation page: Donate
Many thanks to Ilene Silverman, her staff and crew for all their help, and for asking us to be a part of her show!
When watching the video below, please realize that there are black-out spaces where commercials would be inserted for network airing, the show returns after the slotted break-time.
Stahls’ Automotive Museum Raises Funds for Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs – by Melissa Walsh
This month’s Grosse Pointe Magazine has published a fantastic story about the incredible people at Stahl’s Museum, and their fundraising efforts this past Veterans’ Day weekend. Read the story here:
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs accepts the 2018 #VETTY Award in the Mental Health Category
On January 20, 2018 our Founder and CEO, Carol Borden and our National Canine Program Director, Nate Burney were in Washington, D.C. at the Mayflower Hotel for the 2018 VETTY Awards, created and hosted by the Academy of United States Veterans.
In the video below, Carol is presented the VETTY for Mental Health by actor, Mike Vogel of NBC’s “The Brave” and Bronze Star Recipient, Matt James. In announcing the award, the Academy posted: “Recipient (GAMSD) has made a significant difference in the lives of veterans whose wounds can’t be seen. Recipient has provided services/methods to replace feelings of despair with hope”.
We are both honored and humbled to receive this distinguished award. Thanks to our incredible staff, supporters, volunteers and foster family trainers for making each new incredible Service Dog Team possible.
Together, We can Unleash the Power to Heal
If you would like to learn more about the Academy of United States Veterans, you can visit their website at: www.AUSV.org
Army Magazine features Guardian Angels’ own National Canine Program Director, Nate Burney
While we attended the AUSA National Convention this past October, Army Magazine’s Gina Cavallaro asked to sit down with our National Canine Program Director, Nate Burney.
The article was just released in their January, 2018 issue. In the article, Nate talks about his experience in their “Seven Questions” segment about both his military service, and his experience with Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, how his work impacts his life and his calling to help his military brothers and sisters.
Nate says: “When I get up and go in every day, it’s not work. It’s something that fulfills me”.
To enlarge, click on the image. Read the full article here:
We’ve just received the exciting news that we’ve been nominated for a VETTY Award by the Academy of United States Veterans (AUSV)!
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs is honored to be named a Finalist for the 2020 VETTY® Award. 2020 will mark our third consecutive year reaching the finalist stage of this nationwide competition. Here’s a little on our history with the award:
- 2018 Finalist and Winner of the Mental Health VETTY®
- 2019 Finalist in the Mental Health Category
- 2020 Finalist in Suicide Prevention Category – Vote now!
But we need your help!
The first round of voting was decided by AUSV’s voting members, where they selected Guardian Angels and two other nominees as finalists. This final round of the competition is open to public vote beginning today and running through December 18, 2019.
Will you take just a moment today to click the link and give us a Vote?
https://rangerup.com/pages/suicide-prevention
We’re up against some very powerful competition, and hope that your support can put us over the top to our 2nd VETTY win in three years!
Read the full text of our entry..
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, suicide is now the 10thleading cause of death in the United States. In fact, from 2005 to 2016, the veteran suicide rate increased 25.9%, and the suicide rate amongst veterans was 1.5 times greater for veterans than non-veterans.
There is strong evidence, that among Veterans who experienced combat trauma, the highest relative suicide risk is observed in those who were wounded multiple times and/or hospitalized for a wound. This suggests that the intensity of the combat trauma, and the number of times it occurred, may influence suicide risk in Veterans.
There is also rising concern in the first-responder community, as a recent study by the Ruderman Foundation found rising suicide rates in our first responder community, now rising to 20% higher than the rates of civilian suicide. In 2017, more than 240 active duty police and fire personnel committed suicide. The Ruderman study concluded that PTSD was the primary culprit in first-responder suicides.
More shocking still, is that the rate of suicide in the civilian community is at a 50-year high. In fact, the national suicide rate increased a staggering 33% between 1999 and 2017, according to the CDC’s National Vital Statistics System data. Beyond our veteran community, our organization has paired people from all walks of life with these life-changing service dogs; including high school shooting victims, retired police and fire fighters, correction officers who have survived riots and first responders from the Oklahoma City bombing.
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs has been waging a battle against PTSD and other disabilities that lead to suicide ideation since 2010. By donating nearly 300 individually trained medical service dogs, for various disabilities, most of which include PTSD, our dogs can detect and alert to rising anxiety and stress in their recipients, before it can reach critical levels, and react immediately to calm and re-focus their recipient on them, instead of their rising anxiety. They alert recipients, and gently awake them from night terrors, letting them fall back into a more restful sleep. This avoids the downward spiral that can come from sleep deprivation.
With their Service Dog at their side, our recipients report reduction or elimination of medication under their Doctors care. Beyond the recipient, this begins to change the lives of their family members as well. Many reports and stories are now being published on inter-generational PTSD. By letting the recipient re-engage with family and friends, this greatly reduces the instances of inter-generational PTSD’s potential for effecting the lives of their children.
Our organization has built a framework of assistance around our recipients that includes online private groups, designed to be a place of comfort and comradery 24/7 for our recipients across 22 states who may need a place to belong, feel safe, and have others who immediately understand and share in their experience. Our Director of Recipient Relations has a master’s degree in human services, with a specialty in social and community services; and leads quarterly follow-up to all recipients. We have staff on-call to respond to emergencies 24/7/365, plus a volunteer psychiatrist that consults as needed. Beyond this, our organization gives presentations nationwide, bringing awareness and attention to the alarming levels of suicide in our veteran, first-responder and civilian populations.
Because of this work, and the extraordinary efforts that go into training these dogs to meet the specific needs of each individual recipient – the divorce rate in our veteran recipients drops from up to 95% above the national average, to less than 1%. We have experienced ZERO suicides to date once a recipient is paired with one of our service dogs.
*Sources:
Law Enforcement Today
Pacific Standard
U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs
