VALOR

 (Veterans Advancing Lives Of Rescues)

Currently on hiatus, this program, V.A.L.O.R. partnered veterans with shelter dogs in Safe Humane’s Court Case Dog™ Program, using the human-animal bond to help veterans achieve emotional healing. Veterans gain a sense of efficacy as they socialize and train these animals who have survived abuse and neglect. Recent research estimates that 22 veterans in the US commit suicide every day; 1 shelter animal is put down every 8 seconds. Lives could be saved by pairing veterans with companion animals, whether as companions for them or others.

While other groups provide disabled veterans with service dogs, many veterans do not qualify, do not apply because of a stigma, are unable to obtain assistance with the cost (as high as $40,000), or simply do not need all the services of such highly trained dogs. VALOR uses training of rescued shelter dogs to enhance self-worth of veterans and provide companionship to members of that larger population who could greatly benefit from emotional healing.

VALOR thoughtfully pairs veterans with rescued dogs from the Court Case Dog Program. The veterans and dogs study in a customized 8- to 10-week training curriculum with input from a social work professional. Each veteran who graduates has the opportunity to foster or adopt a dog. VALOR makes rehabilitation a two-way street, giving the rescued dogs socialization and skills to adapt to life outside the shelter, and providing the veterans who work with the dogs a sense of worth and well-being, dog training career skills, and camaraderie with other veterans.

VALOR veterans also have the opportunity to continue on to more advanced training classes and continue to volunteer with Safe Humane. The veterans are also exposed to the job opportunities that exist in animal welfare.

To learn more about the special bond that VALOR honors, watch our video here:

VALOR - Veterans Advancing Lives Of Rescues, a program of Safe Humane Chicago from Safe Humane Chicago on Vimeo.