Big Paws Canine is an organization that provides Service and Companion Dogs to Veterans and former First Responders injured in the line of duty.
Thanks to the Lennox American Legion, people in the area can learn more about the program first-hand as Big Paws Canine will be putting on a program at the post’s next meeting Monday, Sept. 17.
Legion Post Commander, John Kirchner said the Legion meeting starts at 7 p.m. and the program, open to the public, will start at approximately 7:30 p.m.
“Plan to attend and bring a friend with you so that everyone can learn about service dogs,” Kirchner said, “They put on a great program and you never know when you may need a dog like this. This event will be open to the public.”
Roger Klos, District 7 Commander, volunteers in the office for Big Paws Canine. The non-profit program is run strictly on volunteer man-power. Klos said the program provides a needed service to Veterans and First Responders.
The definition of a Service Dog is a dog that is trained to do work or perform a task to assist a person with a disability according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Primarily, Big Paws Canine trains dogs to assist with, but not exclusive to: Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury, COPD and other breathing disorders, as well as mobility.
“PTSD affects not just the Veterans, but all fireman, police and ambulance personnel. To see the calming affect of the dogs — the dogs sense things we don’t. It’s amazing what they can do,” he said.
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