COMMAND K9 SERVICE DOGS
Dedicated to Helping Disabled Veterans Return to a Life of Dignity and Independence Those in our community who are called to serve our nation are among the highest form of heroes. Their loyalty and commitment are unparalleled. And when their service comes to an end, they often are faced with mental and physical challenges that have long-lasting impacts on their lives. This is where Ally Nass and her non-profit, Command K9 Service Dogs, come in. Comprise of an all-veterans all-volunteer staff; Command K9 Service Dogs is dedicated to helping these disabled veterans return to a life of dignity and independence. Volusia County is home to around 70,000 veterans, with thousands more in central Florida. Many have sustained physical injuries from Vietnam, Korea, the Gulf War, and the most recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Still, others have suffered non-visible wounds and are experiencing PTSD or other psychological injuries. Service dogs can dramatically improve their circumstances, assisting those with mobility impairments or hearing loss, but they can also provide incredible support to those suffering from psychological trauma. In addition, being paired with a service dog can reduce the need for medications and lessen the impacts of suicidal ideation. Providing a service dog for a veteran is no simple task. The training alone costs $10,000 per dog and lasts 12 months. And that’s assuming the veteran already has a dog who would pass the evaluation to begin training. Still, other veterans need to be paired with a dog, and that cost could rise to an estimated $15,000. Command K9 Service Dogs provides service dog training and all
equipment free to disabled veterans. “When I started Command K9, I wanted to not only provide service dog training, but I also wanted to create an environment where veterans can support each other long after they received their service dogs,” Ally said. Command K9 Service Dogs is dedicated to serving our veteran community members and is determined to help curve the staggering number of veterans that commit suicide every day. That’s an unbelievable 22 veterans a day committing suicide in our country. But they can’t do it alone, they operate strictly from donations from our community, and they need our help. Last year Command K9 Service Dogs placed 21 veterans with service dogs, but there’s still a lot more that can be done. Lack of funds has forced Command K9 to put 27 veterans on a waiting list. “We need more funds; we need sponsors to help us continue our work and help get all of our veterans moved from our waiting list to the path of recovery,” said Ally. To learn more about Command K9 Service Dogs or donate to this great organization, please visit www.CommandK9ServiceDogs.com or follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ commandk9servicedogs. Ed Rosa is a retired Army Sergeant Major and veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. After his service he continues to serve as part of several nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping our veterans.
Dedicated to Providing Affordable and Safe Housing for Seniors in the Heart of DeLand
101 North Amelia Ave., DeLand, FL •
Large carpeted studio & one-bedroom apartments for low-income seniors
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Remodeled kitchens, walk-in closets, & self controlled air/heat
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Utilities included (telephone & cable extra)
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Controlled access to the building
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Amenities include library, fitness center, auditorium and more, as well as a variety of planned social activities
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62+ community only
For More Information Call 386-734-2299 TTY 1-800-545-1833 ext. 991
Aging Times Magazine | April 2022
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