MK9S SERVICE DOGS

Completed training and placed one service dog with her veteran. Lilly now resides with her veteran and attended and participated in weekly training sessions to further solidify the veteran/service dog bond. Facility Dog Dez continues weekly visits to the Naples Italy Naval Hospital and USO air terminal. Dez is also part of the American Red Cross PAWS program. Continued training of two service dogs in training with their respective veterans. Acquired and began training with a new service dog in training in March. MK9s Service Dogs continues to work primarily with veterans in Virginia, however, we expanded our geographic area to work with veterans in Rhode Island, West Virginia and Tennessee. We also are giving support to our veterans stationed overseas in the UK and Italy with their service and facility dogs. We continue to have a strong partnership with Mercy Medical flights, and they have supported transportation of our West Virginia and Tennessee veterans to their trainings this year with their service dog and service dog in training and transported our newest service dog in training from North Carolina to Virginia in March.

Outreach is a critical component to MK9s Service Dogs' continued success. Lead trainer is co-chair of Northern Virginia Collaborative which works with military members, veterans and organizations that support these communities. Several MK9s Service Dogs' volunteers participated in outreach events this year. The Veterans Curation Program Open House and Resource Fair in Arlington, Virginia had over 100 participants and attendees in which two of our Service Dogs in Training attended. The volunteers presented information and answered questions about utilizing a service dog. Our retired Service Dog and his handler participated in a Veteran Outreach program in MD this year. Mrs. Raley (handler) gave a presentation about service dogs and their impact on veterans' mental health. Over 75 people attended her presentation. MK9s continued participating in a monthly program at a local restaurant to educate individuals. During this program approximately 100 individuals were engaged. Several MK9s Service Dog volunteers and Service Dogs in Training participated in the Walter Reed Hospital Stress Down event in the summer which led to monthly visits to Walter Reed Hospital to provide health breaks for the students in the practical nurse program. Approximately 150 nursing students and instructors were engaged in this five month program.