Thursday, October 3, 2013

Support Warrior Service Dogs at this year's Fall Sale


Dear Whimsical Women Community,
For the past two years, the annual fall Whimsical Women Art Show has supported Bras-N-Boots with thousands of donated items that were shipped to service women deployed around the globe.   Your impressive show of support proves that the women servicing overseas in harm’s way are not forgotten.  While Bras-N-Boots is still an active organization, this year it was brought to my attention that there is another large void in supporting our war veterans. 
This time, the support need is closer to home.  Each year thousands of service women and men return home from war without visible wounds, and struggle each and every day with Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  After my deployment to Afghanistan in 2010, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, I personally struggled with the perils of combat long after I left the war-zone.  While the support of my family and friends was unparalleled, the love and support of my service dog, Bella, is what really rescued me in the end.  This year at Whimsical Woman, we are going to support a local North Carolina organization dedicated training rescue dogs to support, love, and care for veterans struggling with PTSD. 
Warrior Service Dogs is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Asheville, North Carolina that is dedicated to linking trained rescue dogs to veterans suffering with the challenges of PTSD.  The organization is the only of its kind that actually links the dog with the veteran and that supports dog and veteran through the service dog training process from start to finish.  Once the dog and veteran are linked together, the veteran will work with the trainers of Warrior Service Dogs to train the dog to be able to support the veteran’s needs. One might ask how a dog can provide support for someone with PTSD?  While the specific struggles with PTSD varies from individual to individual, dogs can be trained to specifically help a person with disabilities manage their recovery process as well as provide therapeutic support along the way.  Besides the unwavering love Bella provides in my life each day, Bella also wakes me up from PTSD-induced nightmares at night. 
As more and more veterans are receiving treatment for PTSD, the need for trained service dogs to support the veterans through their treatment process is also on the rise. This year at Whimsical Women, let’s support our local veterans, rescue animals, and raise awareness of the challenges with PTSD by helping Warrior Service Dogs.  They have a full time schedule working to train dogs, helping veterans through their PTSD treatment, and raising awareness of the importance of service dogs- any bit of support they can get is much appreciated. 
Right now, Warrior Service Dogs need your support with donations of:
-Moist dog treats for training
-Leashes
-Collars
-Small orange cones for training
-Gift cards to Wal-Mart and Lowe’s Home Improvement
-Collapsible dog bowls
-Dog crates of different sizes
-Cash donations to help with veterinary bills, service vest gear, and dog registration
Warrior Service Dogs will be at located at the entrance of Whimsical Women.  Please be sure to stop by and thank them for their support to veterans, and while you are at it thank their handlers for their support to our country!
Wag more, bark less!
Molly Mae Potter, Capt, United States Air Force

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