Operation Sidekick

With the growing recognition of the mental and physical health benefits that service dogs provide, also comes the growing demand for service dogs to fill those needs. Training a service dog can reach upwards of almost $20,000 depending on the dog, the trainer, and the need. Many victims and/or witnesses to a traumatic event, which would greatly benefit from the companionship of a service dog simpl

y can’t afford the cost, or, may end up on a two to three year waiting list depending on their area and availability. Veterans and minors make up a large majority of individuals that especially fall victim to PTSD.

• In 2011, child protective services in the United States 3.4 million referral cases were received in which 646,000 cases were confirmed of abuse/neglect. 78.5% suffered neglect, 17.6% suffered physical abuse, and 9.1% suffered sexual abuse. These are case numbers and though only 646,000 referrals are noted, that includes about 6.2 million children that were specifically referred to the department on suspected neglect/abuse. (1) It goes without saying that this also does not account for abuse and neglect that goes unreported.
• Soldiers withstand abnormal amounts of stress from combat and service related experiences and/or witnessing the following (but not limited to) (2):
a) Severe casualties and death
b) Civilian rape and military sexual trauma
c) Terrorist incidents
d) Life threatening combat
e) Casualty or death of comrades

These experiences can lead to behaviors such as depression, suicide, reclusiveness, hyperarousal, (being constantly tense or “on edge”), and nightmares, among many responses. (3)

The purpose of APBF’s Operation sidekick is to pair veterans and minors that would benefit from a service dog with a highly trained and well matched [service dog] for little to no cost. Where we get our dogs – helping more than just humans

An estimated 3 to 4 million animals are killed in shelters annually. Roughly almost 1 million of them are reported to be Pit Bull type dogs. Pit Bull type dogs make up multiple breeds that happen to excel exceptionally well at a multitude of job-related tasks from improving children’s reading skills to search and rescue, and even in providing therapy for those that suffer from PTSD, just to name a few. The dogs that are provided to veterans and minors will be rescued dogs that have been tested, on temperament, as well as ability to perform specific tasks related to the needs of the individuals that suffer from PTSD. These dogs will be rescued canines and in some cases may be selected by the trainer and family, together. In other cases, excellent candidates for training enter the APBF Adoption Program, they may be pulled into training and cued to be paired with a future veteran or minor in need of a service companion. http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treatment/children/ptsd_in_children_and_adolescents_overview_for_professionals.asp

2. http://www.military.com/benefits/veterans-health-care/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-overview.html

3. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml#part2

http://goodneighbors.com/post/87591117477/elle

09/04/2024

🐾 Meet the Heroes Behind the Leash! 🐾
As we celebrate National Service Dog Month, we're shining a spotlight on the powerful bond between our Operation Sidekick dogs and their handlers. These pit bulls are more than just companions—they're life-changing partners, trained to provide essential support and unwavering love. Swipe through to discover how these incredible dogs are making a difference, one wag at a time! 🐕‍🦺💚

04/26/2024

Did you know❓Service dogs can be trained to provide assistance when their owner experiences a nightmare? This is especially helpful because service-related PTSD often results in nightmares and even night terrors. Our dogs are trained to wake their veterans up from distressing dreams when needed.

🐕 Here are several ways service dogs can help:
🩶 Interrupting Nightmares: Trained to wake owners during distressing dreams.
🩶 Providing Comfort: Offering physical reassurance post-nightmare.
🩶 Grounding Techniques: Applying pressure to help anchor owner in reality.
🩶 Bringing a Sense of Reality: Providing familiar sensory input to distinguish dream from reality.
🩶 Alerting Others: Can signal for help in severe cases.

Overall, service dogs offer invaluable support to their owners during nightmare episodes, helping to reduce distress and promote a sense of safety and well-being.

10/21/2022

"It all started with a dog named Bear. Bear was quite the ham and knew how to interact differently based on the individual needs of the Veterans. He would lie quietly on the bed if needed or put his paws up to encourage others. This led many Veterans to ask if they could take Bear home with them. Bear’s owner thought, “why is therapy one hour a week inside when it could be 24/7 at home?” Since Bear was spoken for, his owner thought she could help more veterans find their own Bear to help them rehabilitate. To spread the word, we’re celebrating Bear and all other Service Animals on October 21!" ~National Today
Happy National Pets for Veterans Day, friends! We hope you'll honor this day by participating (locally or virtually) in our Rescue Me 5K happening tomorrow at 9am.

10/13/2022

Our biggest event of the year is less than two weeks away! Check out the race page for a full list of activities, get registered, and see what all everyone is excited about! Here are some of the many compliments we've gotten about the Rescue Me 5K event in the past and more reasons that if you haven't registered yet to sign up below 😍
“Nicely run event and great charity!”
“I love the organization and how fun it is!”
“I love all of the dogs, the excitement, and the positivity!”
“The T-Shirt logo is amazing!!!!”
“We love being able to run with our dog, and the medal was really cool!”
“It was a really fun and friendly event! It was wonderful to see the super cute dogs in their outfits.”

RescueMe 5K 2022 RescueMe 5k Grab your four-legged and two-legged running and walking buddies and join us at our NEW LOCATION in Belmont, NC for the sixth annual RescueMe 5k benefiting the American Pit Bull Foundation and Operation Sidekick!

09/24/2022

Meet Sidekick Jade! She’s so much more than beauty - this girl has some serious smarts and is coming along beautifully in her training thanks to the dedication of her puppy raiser Kat and her starting trainer ❤️ Jade is 1 of 6 puppies we have in service dog training and she needs a sponsor to help her continue her training journey. On average, each Sidekick costs the organization $10,000 to raise and train for a veteran in need. Please consider joining our PACK at apbf.dog/thepack to support Jade and her future veteran. You can also show your support by registering for our annual RescueMe 5k virtually or locally happening Saturday, October 22 in rescueme5k.com for more info!

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http://www.operationsidekick.com/

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Charlotte, NC
28201-28237, 28240-28247, 28250, 28253-28256, 28258, 28260-28262, 28265-28266, 2

Operation Sidekick

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