This commentary talks about a wonderful program that you can support if you believe our servicemen and servicewomen should receive all the help we can provide once they return from the battlefield. It's called TADSAW -- Train a Dog, Save a Warrior. It provides trained Medical Alert Service Dogs for these heroes, to whom we all owe so much.
It's worthy of your consideration as you decide on your remaining charitable contributions before year's end.
My sister-in-law, Crissy Mancini, is a certified dog trainer and works with TADSAW, training service dogs that are then paired with returning warriors who need help, both in body and mind. She is dedicated to that program and to the men and women -- and the animals -- that she works with.
What I did not know until I checked the TADSAW website was that the organization goes beyond providing trained Medical Alert Service Dogs for military personnel. There are also programs to help their families as well as first responders in our community. Here's how TADSAW explains it:
The TADSAW, INC. mission is to provide for the training of a Medical Alert Service Dog, as designated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990/2010 guidelines, for any wounded Veteran Service Member (Active Duty. Retired, Discharged) surviving with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), in order to restore and improve the Veteran’s Quality of Life with a canine ‘Battle Buddy’, at no charge to the Veteran or the family.
TADSAW, INC. oversees a second program, ‘Train A Dog – Save A Family’ (TADSAF), which also provides for the training of a Medical Alert Service Dog for any Veteran’s immediate family, spouse and/or children, surviving with compassion fatigue, secondary Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or any other mental health issue diagnosed while the Veteran was deployed or on Active Duty, in order to restore and improve the individuals Quality of Life with a canine ‘Buddy’, at no charge to the family.
In addition, TADSAW, INC. supports a third program, the ‘Train A DOG – Save A Responder’ (TADSAR), which provides for the training of a Medical Alert Service Dog for any First Responder, Local and State Police, Fire Fighters, and Hospital staff, surviving with the aftermath of treating individuals that are victims of catastrophic events or accidents.
TADSAW, INC. is committed to serving the United States Military men and women, their families and the First Responders, responsible with protecting our nation.
If you are considering charitable donations as we approach year's end, please consider TADSAW, INC. You can learn more about making a donation here.