THE
Sharing the vision and supporting the mission of the Triangle area non-profit community.
Heart
OF THE TRIANGLE
Wags4Tags Unites Rescued Dogs with Veterans By Judy Liu, MPH N
orth Carolina has the highest pet euthanasia rate of any state in the United States. Unfortunately, many North Carolina pet owners fail to neuter their pets,
and that results in far too many unwanted animals that wind up in shelters and then must be euthanized. If you have a pet that has not been neutered, please contact your veterinarian or local animal shelter. There are several low cost options. Many pet owners, especially dog and cat owners, think that since their pets are kept in their homes, that they do not need to be neutered. That simply isn’t true. Animals can interact with others at the park, during walks, or even on those rare occasions when they momentarily escape the confines of the home or yard. A door or gate left ajar for a few seconds can result in a litter of new puppies or kittens a few weeks later. Many animal shelters provide temporary shelter for
unwanted pets in hope of finding them new owners. Wag- s4Tags is a not-for-profit organization with the objectives of saving as many dogs as possible by giving them a purpose through skilled, compassionate and specialized training while at the same time helping as many veterans as possible to overcome the often debilitating effects of their military service. North Carolina has the 3rd largest military popula- tion in the United States. Many veterans return from active duty suffering from various psychological and emotional impairments and disabilities such as PTSD, TBI, depression and anxiety. Wags4Tags partners with these veterans and provides
them with dogs that have undergone specialized training that enables them to have an amazing understanding of their
new partners. Depending on the level of specialized trained required, the dogs will be trained to pass the AKC’s Canine Good Citizenship Test or as an Emotional Support Dog (with Letter of Certification). Having a companion pet that offers unconditional love and acceptance is proven to help alleviate depression and often creates a strong sense of purpose for the pet owner. Wags4Tags mission is to unite psychologically and emotionally impaired Veterans across North Carolina with trained Companion and Emotional Support Dogs rescued from kill shelters so that both can heal through unconditional love, trust and loyalty. There are many ways to donate, so please consider
choosing the one that works best for you. It can cost as much as $2,000 per dog to prepare it for his/her new owner. This includes rescue/adoption fees; the cost to spay/neuter, vaccinate, treatment for heartworms and address any other medical issues (such as eye infections, flea infestations, etc.); micro-chip, feed, foster/train and certify. No costs are passed on to the veteran. Any donation amount will make a difference. Wags4Tags is an entirely volunteer-based, and all dona-
tions stay in North Carolina. 98% of your donation goes directly to rescuing, vetting, training, and matching a dog to his or her veteran, and includes supplies the veteran will need to properly care for his or her new companion. Wag- s4Tags is also always in need of volunteers willing to help care for dogs as they undergo their training. For information please visit
http://www.wags4tags.org
Natural Awakenings supports Triangle area non-profits by offering a free full-page feature article each month. It is a very visible platform from which an organization can tell its story and detail the services it offers. Please let us know if you would like for your non-profit organization to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue. Call 919-342-2831 or email
TrianglePublisher@NatualAwakeningsMag.com.
36 NA Triangle
www.natriangle.com
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