Warrior Canine Connection, a therapy dog non-profit, has a live puppy cam on explore.org streaming a litter of labrador retrievers playing, napping and receiving training. But these puppies aren’t just cute. They’re also therapy dogs and future service dogs.
The puppies serve as therapy dogs for military personnel living with post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injuries, said Jamie Williams, director of communications for the Maryland-based organization.
In fact, one puppy — named Tammy after Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a veteran of the Iraq War — just started her first full-time job on Tuesday. She will be visiting Walter Reed National Medical Military Center every day as part of her training.
“It’s not just that they hang out and are petted. We teach the service members how to train these dogs,” Williams said. Working with the dogs helps the service members “who wouldn’t ordinarily come out of their shell because they are dealing with PTSD,” she said.
Once fully trained, the dogs are placed in homes with disabled veterans. The program operates in four centers: Walter Reed National Medical Military Center, The National Intrepid Center of Excellence (a brain trauma facility at Walter Reed), Fort Belvoir in Alexandria, Va., and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Menlo Park, Calif.
Come see the pups of the Warrior Canine Connection as they nap, play, and train to serve US Veterans.
EXPLORE the Complete – Warrior Canine Connection Live Camera Experience
