Operation Heroes And Hounds Matches War Veterans With Death Row Dogs

After serving in the Marines, Sonny Patrick found herself struggling with homelessness and alcoholism. But once she made friends with Sarge, a small mutt saved from "doggie death row," she felt her life take a positive turn.

Speaking of Sarge, she told NBC Los Angeles:

"It's great he's here for us. We're all just one dog, one hug away from a better world."

Patrick participates in Operation Heroes and Hounds, a program supported by veteran-advocacy nonprofit New Directions.

The program saves dogs deemed "unadoptable" by local pounds and matches them with war vets who are finding it difficult to adjust to civilian life. The veterans help acclimate the nervous or untrained dogs to become adoptable by training and nurturing them.

The organization says the dogs in turn help their trainers and reports that vets who complete the program experience a 35 percent quality-of-life increase.

WATCH:

Comments

[RPLinNYC]

09:06 AM on 04/06/2011

Great program and great story.
Truly win-win for everyone involved and for the community.

[Fattonecat]

07:04 PM on 03/29/2011

I wish they would come and get my neighbors 3 dogs who sit in the backyard and bark for attention all day. They NEVER pay attention to those dogs. They deserve better than that.

[OMGWTH]

01:46 PM on 05/01/2011

I'm in the same situation. My neighbors have a beautiful black lab that is kept chained to his doghouse all day, every day. He is not permitted in the house and in bad weather, he is kept locked in the garage. I rarely see either of his owners walking him or playing with him. I don't know why they brought him home. I asked if I could go over each day to play with him and keep him company, but they nixed my offer. He isn't being abused, so reporting them for neglect is out of the question. Sad to see.

[Lindstr7]

01:15 PM on 03/26/2011

We need more stories like this that shine a light on human "kind" amidst all the war mongering, political bickering and disaster porn.

[logic-a-go-go]

01:04 AM on 03/26/2011

What an absolutely lovely program. Everyone wins!

[healthcarenow]

11:19 PM on 03/25/2011

This is awesome! To dogs and vets: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

[Marley Inksetter-Smith]

11:35 AM on 03/25/2011

This is awesome. No dog should EVER be put down because of the despicable way a human has raised them. Every shelter should be doing this.

[Aldyth]

10:54 AM on 03/25/2011

Who is rescuing whom?

[healthcarenow]

11:19 PM on 03/25/2011

exactly!

[KKSSHOE]

10:00 AM on 03/25/2011

Its is human failure that results in any Dog that behaves badly. No dog should "EVER" be put to death. This is a GREAT story!!

[Connie Markley Boppre]

08:56 AM on 03/25/2011

and to think they were going to put these dogs to death ! how sad !

[Spiral Architect]

08:49 AM on 03/25/2011

Great story!

[kansasbashkir]

08:44 AM on 03/25/2011

This is the "silver lining" to a dark cloud. Nice story!

[redbud9]

08:40 AM on 03/25/2011

Wow, what a great program. Gonna put my money where my mouth is and donate.

[Aldyth]

10:48 AM on 03/25/2011

Fanned and faved for setting the example.

[Billy Jack]

08:39 AM on 03/25/2011

We've had two dogs, adopted both of them from shelters. Great companions

[logic-a-go-go]

01:05 AM on 03/26/2011

Shelter-adopted dogs are always incredibly loyal and grateful to their new human companions.

[lindabear]

08:02 AM on 03/25/2011

Thanks, that was a positive read to start my day.

[ArnoldHorshack]

07:39 AM on 03/25/2011

Finally...GOOD NEWS