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Our speaker today was Bart Sherwood, Co-Founder of the ‘Train a Dog – Save a Warrior’ (TADSAW) program in San Antonio, Texas, and was the Owner-Manager- Pharmacist of Oak Park Village Pharmacy & Sherwood’s Cafe serving the Alamo Heights area of San Antonio, TX from 1985 thru 2004. While enrolled in college, Bart served in the U.S. Army Reserves, and today considers himself a “Weekend Veteran” limited to one weekend a month and 2-weeks during the summer. In 2010, the ‘Train a Dog – Save a Warrior’ (TADSAW) program was initiated as a part of the Penny’s From Heaven Foundation (Therapy Dog organization doing Animal Assisted Activity & Therapy); and in 2012, TADSAW, INC. filed as a separate 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, from the parent PFHF. Today, Bart continues to serves as President of the Board of Directors, Executive Director and Program Director, and any other role that needs to be filled. Bart shared with us that "not all service dogs are the same." Dogs are trained for specialized fields. In this case dogs are trained to help vets diagnosed with PTSD, described an "occupation induced job related problem". They are trained to smell cortisol and adrenaline transmitters triggered when the Vet is experiencing a PTSD episode. The Vets learn how to train their service dog which ensures the Vet's future with another dog if the time comes when their dog dies or has to be retired. Many times he Vet can lead a productive life with less or no drugs with their possible side effects with their trained service dog. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, 22 Vets diagnosed with PTSD commit suicide a day. Since many times the dogs the service dogs were once in a shelter, the lives of both the dog and Vet are saved. TADSAW provides service dogs at no cost and no application fee to the Vet because "it's an honor and a privilege to serve you. You defended our country." The service dog improves the Vet's quality of life and allows them to live independently. The trained service dog gives the Vet hope and a future. If the Vet already owns a dog, many times their dog can be trained for service. Bart shared more information that explains TADSAW and the service they provide the Vets. We appreciate you, Bart, with the work that you are doing through TADSAW to honor our Vets. Thank you for taking the time to prepare this presentation for us and educating us about TADSAW. |
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