Clear Path for Veterans Canine Program Awarded Grant
Clear Path for Veterans in Chittenango, has received a $23,000 grant from the Central New York Community Foundation to help support its Canine Program which provides trained service dogs for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, brain injuries, or other trauma.
Ryan Woodruff, a Marine Corps Veteran, who runs the Canine Program at Clear Path says the dogs they pair up with veterans are specially trained for two years to help veterans cope with anxiety, depression, and other symptoms.
"Dogs are great for everybody, especially veterans struggling with these issues. Caring for these canine companions really helps provide veterans with a purpose and ease their symptoms," he says.
Danielle Johnson, Senior Director of grants and programs at the Central New York Community Foundation says the grant money will help Clear Path for Veterans Canine Program address the specific needs of each veteran.
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“We were excited to be able to support this wonderful program,” she says. “When evaluating grant requests it’s important for us to see that the projects we fund will have a significant, sustainable impact on the community," she says.
Veterans enrolled in the Canine Program are shown to have increased self-compassion, improved quality of life, decreased perceived stress and risk of suicide, and an overall reduction in symptoms related to PTSD.
The program has been implemented since 2011 and has graduated over 80 Veteran/Dog teams.
Find more information on the Clear Path's Canine Program HERE.
