K9s for Warriors, El Paso Animal Services partner for veterans
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — K9s for Warriors partnered with the El Paso Animal Services Department to find and test dogs that can potentially become emotional support animals for veterans at the Westside Adoption Center, located at 5625 Confetti Drive.
K9s for Warriors is a veteran-owned, non-profit organization that test and train shelter dogs to become an aid for military veterans that are suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injuries or military sexual trauma.
Daniel Clavel, director of procurement and placement for K9s for Veterans, talked to KTSM crews about the program.
“For 15 years, we’ve been rescuing dogs, rescuing veterans,” Clavel said. “We’re saving two lives at the end of the leash.”
K9s for Warriors stated that they train the dogs to help acclimate veterans back into civilian life after serving our country, successfully pairing over 1,200 “warriors” through the program.
“We pair veterans every month with service dogs to help with the invisible wounds of war,” Clavel said.
Besides K9s for Warrior’s goal to find qualifying dogs for veterans, officials introduced a new first-time project called “Operation Save Every Warrior.”
Operation Save Every Warrior is a course that will help four veterans and their service dogs graduate from a first satallite class, giving the organization an opportunity to reach veterans that can’t attend their classes based in Florida or San Antonio.
Jose Cortez, community programs manager at El Paso Animal Services, said they are hoping for about 10 to 15 or more dogs to qualify for K9s for Warriors training.
“It is imperative for veterans that need service animals to have them. This can help with PTSD episodes, anxiety attacks, companionship,” Cortez said. “Having a qualified service dog to be there and help you in times of need, helps get through hard times of recovering from traumatic events.”
Cortez is a veteran and served 22 years in the Air Force.
He says working with Animal Services was his way to help and he is excited to work with K9s for Veterans.
“Not everybody in the civilian population understands what you are as a veteran,” Cortez told KTSM. “It’s almost funny that a canine almost understands you more than a person sometimes.”
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