[intro-paragraph]Well all our Labradors are born for some kind of purpose. Family, Service, Military, Working and so on. However, sometimes Labs are bred and born for a very particular special purpose.[/intro-paragraph]
A LABfan sent me a link to a wonderful page about Misty, a Warrior Canine Connection Labrador, that has just had a litter of Lab puppies. Little did I know that clicking the link would bring instant happiness, introduce me to such a wonderful cause and create an addiction.
[box title=”Meet Warrior Canine Connection”]
Warrior Canine Connection TM (WCC) is a therapeutic service dog training program that harnesses the healing power of the human-animal bond. WCC TM teaches Service Members with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) the skill of training mobility service dogs to be partnered with Veterans with mobility impairments. This worthy mission is specifically designed to reduce the symptoms of PTSD in the Warriors who train the dogs–and the great news is, it works! These Warrior-trained service dogs are then partnered with Veterans to provide them years of loyal companionship as well as an increased sense of wellbeing and independence.
Warrior Canine Connection TM serves four vital military missions:
- Provide Service Members and Veterans with PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) the opportunity to be part of a critical military-support mission helping fellow Wounded Warriors.
- Offer a safe, effective, and inexpensive non-pharmaceutical therapeutic intervention for the treatment of PTSD.
- Provide highly skilled service dogs that will provide years of mobility and social support to Veterans with disabilities.
- Strengthen the bonds and relieve stress in military families.
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You can see more of Warrior Canine Connection here:
Warrior Canine Connection Facebook
Warrior Canine Connection Website
Go “LIKE” them Today!!
I think that breeding this pups for a purpose is awesome but what about all the lab pups in shelters and dog pounds on kill lists that could do exactly the same job?? if not better????!!!
Rachel, I agree 100%. It’s been proven that dogs in shelters ARE capable of becoming service dogs.
Rachel Fraga Watson you are right and there are a number of organizations that DO do that as well. You can see some of them in my “LIKES” section. So lets keep it positive. Thanks
They are gorgeous, do they have names yet?
Oh my – good thing you put that disclaimer! I want the one snoozing on his back …oblivious to everything else happening:)
Watching it now and those women have the best job in the world!!!!
No kidding, Amy! I want that job!
Like I said.. Not Responsible…
i am completely mesmerized and can’t wait to share with kids. Now if video stream just had sound and smell – puppy breath:)
Thanks for the disclaimer…..I’m at work and I just HAVE to shut off this puppy cam!
Oh my…puppies!!!!!! Disclaimer is a good thing. DH would kill me if I fell in love with any more Labby Babies!!
oh how I wish I was still doing this, I loved breeding babies I used to spend hours just waching, then playing with them, picking each one up and cuddling them one by one, listening to their snuffles as they smelytyou (as they couldnt see you yet) their little fat warm boddies snugling up to you,. I hated it when the time came to part with them, I used to cry over every puppy,It never got easier. So you see everything has its good and its bad side !
what a great mum
We have found after many years of working with assistance dogs that in order to reliably have a dog of suitable temperament and health that we need to use dogs that are bred for this purpose. It has not been “proven” that all rescue dogs can be service dogs. It takes a certain temperament AND health to become a working service dog. Allowing a dog to work that isn’t up to the job would put the handler in danger – and we are not willing accept that. Our breeding stock are tested for genetic issues as well as thoroughly screened to ensure they have the correct temperament to produce working dogs. While we fully support rescue, for us to serve our Wounded Warriors with the highest level of integrity we must use purpose-bred dogs.
Warrior Canine Connection a Very good point indeed. As much as I would love to be able to have more rescues involved, it is very true that not all Rescues would be suitable. Labrador Friends of the South, Inc. has had some Rescues come through the program that were extremely exceptional and was Adopted and Hired by Law enforcement as well as the Department of Agriculture. It does take a certain time of temperament to fill working positions and Warrior Canine Connection follows all the right steps.
This is a very understandable point, Not all breeds have the correct temprement anyway and natural working ability must make a difference too, !