Service dogs from Murrieta nonprofit group lend veterans a hand

Five acres of land in Murrieta has become the new home base for the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation, a nonprofit group that provides service dogs to veterans.

Tom Tackett, the group’s president, said the foundation moved into town in February. The location gives the foundation, formerly based in Orange, a permanent training facility and a guesthouse that allows veterans working with their dogs to stay on site during training.

“It’s peaceful and serene,” he said. “It’s very therapeutic for veterans of post traumatic stress and brain injury.”

Tackett said the foundation tries to provide about 12 dogs a year for veterans, who use them to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries. Wounded veterans are matched with service dogs that help them become more independent and comfortable outside the military.

Information: patrioticservicefoundation.org.

 

Previously published by  Press-Enterprise
PUBLISHED: September 26, 2017 at 1:49 pm | UPDATED: September 27, 2017 at 12:57 am