When our military veterans return from combat, many of them are accompanied by an unwelcome addition to their everyday lives known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. It affects approximately 1 in 3 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and can impact them for the rest of their lives. Another unfortunate fact is that nearly 40 percent of those suffering with PTSD won’t seek help. This has resulted in approximately 20 veterans per day taking their own life.
Like many Americans, these numbers don’t sit well with the folks at Taysia Blue Rescue in Omaha, Neb. — a nonprofit that strives to save the lives of Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes. That’s why, in 2017, Executive Director Jackie Roach announced the launch of Huskies and Heroes, an outreach program aimed at helping homeless dogs and U.S. veterans to partner together in hope.
“We envision a program that will help some of these dogs that would otherwise be euthanized,” Roach said. “And at the same time, (the dogs) partner with veterans who would benefit from learning dog training skills, and who would also have the benefit of having a four-legged buddy who needed them — who counted on them to have their back.”
Many of the dogs brought to Taysia Blue Rescue have challenges of their own, whether it be surviving abuse or abandonment, or presenting with difficult personalities. Like our soldiers, many of these dogs are traumatized and misunderstood and need someone willing to invest time in helping them heal.
As a high-energy breed, huskies require regular exercise and stimulation to avoid becoming restless or destructive. Huskies and Heroes hope that time, attention and exercise will benefit both the dog and the soldier training them.
“Over the last six years, we’ve saved nearly 600 dogs from being euthanized in shelters,” Roach said. “We believe that, by having our veterans work to train the dogs, they will both be set up for a better future.”
With no shortage of dogs or veterans desperately in need, one of the biggest challenges facing their program is a lack of resources. Currently in need of a permanent facility and regular transportation, Huskies for Heroes is hoping the community will help them in making this a success story.
“The bottom line is, we are asked to help take in dogs that need some extra training, patience, and care but many of our foster homes don’t have the resources to give these dogs what they need,” Roach said. “We need help, the dogs need help – and maybe in the process, we can help someone else regain their sense of purpose, trust, and love.”
For more information, visit taysiablue.com or huskiesandheroes.com.
