NOCATEE, Fla- The big day is getting close. On April 30,K9s for Warriors will open its brand new facility in Nocatee. Organizers say it will be the leading PTSD recovery center using service dogs -- in the entire country --for veterans with PTSD. And the First Coast can take pride in making it happen.
So many people have supported Operation Orion, our First Coast News project to raise funds for the new facility. Schools, businesses, groups, individuals and neighborhoods poured their creative energy into the fundraising.
You can celebrate with us on April 30 at 6pm and 7pm on First Coast News. You'll be able to watch the Grand Opening events live on FCN. You'll meet some of the warriors and their service dogs and see a special patriotic celebration.
The new facility is needed because the waiting list to get into the K9s for Warriors program is more than a year now. Veterans diagnosed with PTSD come from all over the U.S. to train with their service dogs.
Most of the dogs are rescues, many within 48 hours of being put down. Professional trainers spend three to six months training the dogs with special commands before the warriors come to town. The warriors spend three weeks on our First Coast at the K9 facility.
K9s for Warriors founder Shari Duval says, of the more than 160 graduates so far from the program, not a single one has committed suicide. That's significant, especially when you look at data from the Veterans Administration. According to the VA, right now in the U.S., 22 veterans are committing suicide a day.
The new facility will have enough space to quadruple the number of warriors who come each year. However, as the waiting list grows, the program planner say the new kennel space—as big as it is—needs to be expanded. So K9s for Warriors is hoping to raise another $250,000.
If you'd like to help with the next phase of fundraising, please email Jeannie Blaylock at jblaylock@firstcoastnews.com
