Iowa County VFW Auxiliary works to pair veterans with pets in need

Iowa County VFW Auxiliary works to pair veterans with pets in need

Amanda Wiebold’s idea to support veterans while saving pets has been in the works for years, but she says it all came together within a day, KCRG reports.“It was a chaotic 24 hours for all of the pieces to work together,” Wiebold said. “I always thought how cool would it be if we could use the funds from this 5k to pay for a service dog for an Iowa County veteran.”Wiebold works as the junior vice president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and a long-time volunteer at Safe Haven of Iowa County.She said her mission became real after a puppy, Colt, from Safe Haven qualified to become a service dog.“He does puppy training for four to eight weeks, and then once that training is complete, he will begin PTSD and therapy training,” Wiebold said. “From there, he will be partnered with a veteran.”She said it’s all possible thanks to a fundraiser 5k she helped start called ‘Support a Vet, Save a Pet’.She said she wants to help other veterans after seeing the impact pet adoption can have on a veteran firsthand.“I’m married to a veteran and can see the struggles that a lot of our veterans have coming home from overseas,” Wiebold said. “An animal changes a person’s quality of life.”Wiebold said the community has rallied behind her mission and has stepped in to support the 5k, with over $14,700 raised so far.She said she’s seen far more support than she ever imagined, and she’s already planning to expand the program next year.“We have one service dog this year. My goal is two next year,” Wiebold said. “I just want to go bigger, anything is possible.”If you are interested in registering for the 5k on Nov. 9, you can go to: supportavetsaveapet5k.ludus.com/

Amanda Wiebold’s idea to support veterans while saving pets has been in the works for years, but she says it all came together within a day, KCRG reports.

“It was a chaotic 24 hours for all of the pieces to work together,” Wiebold said. “I always thought how cool would it be if we could use the funds from this 5k to pay for a service dog for an Iowa County veteran.”

Wiebold works as the junior vice president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and a long-time volunteer at Safe Haven of Iowa County.

She said her mission became real after a puppy, Colt, from Safe Haven qualified to become a service dog.

“He does puppy training for four to eight weeks, and then once that training is complete, he will begin PTSD and therapy training,” Wiebold said. “From there, he will be partnered with a veteran.”

She said it’s all possible thanks to a fundraiser 5k she helped start called ‘Support a Vet, Save a Pet’.

She said she wants to help other veterans after seeing the impact pet adoption can have on a veteran firsthand.

“I’m married to a veteran and can see the struggles that a lot of our veterans have coming home from overseas,” Wiebold said. “An animal changes a person’s quality of life.”

Wiebold said the community has rallied behind her mission and has stepped in to support the 5k, with over $14,700 raised so far.

She said she’s seen far more support than she ever imagined, and she’s already planning to expand the program next year.

“We have one service dog this year. My goal is two next year,” Wiebold said. “I just want to go bigger, anything is possible.”

If you are interested in registering for the 5k on Nov. 9, you can go to: supportavetsaveapet5k.ludus.com/

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