The Wait Is Over! 27-Year Veteran Receives Service Dog After Years on Waiting List
“The wait is over!” were the words we spoke today to a United States Air Force Vietnam veteran who served in the military for 27 years!
I don’t believe in coincidences. I just don’t. So I consider it a true God moment when we discovered that this veteran who was simply an attendee of the American Warrior Initiative event today in Tacoma, Washington, had been on the wait list for a service dog for THREE years. In fact, this morning on her way to this event, she shared with our videographers that she passed by Humane Society and thought “I might just go ahead and get a rescue dog instead of waiting on the service dog.”
But guess what? The amazing local branch of Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation in Tacoma, Washington, had already earmarked $10,000 to fund a service dog ….. we just needed a veteran!!!! When we heard “through the grapevine” of the need right there in our conference, AWI just made that decision – right on the spot!
Do you think that is coincidence? NO!!!!!
Also, one of the veterans for whom AWI sponsored a service dog last year, came to share how his service dog, Charcoal, had changed his life over the past year – and then – SURPRISE! We honored him again with a $5,500 family grant thanks to the generous donations of local agents, Michael Fornerette, the #FairwayNation, and AWI.
And one more thing …. AWI has now formed a partnership with Purina Dog Chow, and they have graciously donated one year supply of dog food for the veterans who receive service dogs! So – both veterans received that donation from Purina!
What an amazing day …. !!! Thank you, Katrina Turner and Gina Van Thiel – your help made it a success!
