Army Veteran Gets A Special Buddy from Freedom Service Dogs, Inc.

Meet Opus! Opus is a two-year old black lab who is smart as a whip and has the sweetest of personalities. Opus breezed through his service-dog training and has been matched with an Army veteran. Opus and his veteran are currently participating in Operation Full Circle program, a program that is focused on increasing the benefits that service dogs provide veterans, and decreasing the time that veterans have to wait for a service dog. This program is unique in that veterans not only participate alongside Freedom Service Dogs trainers to help train their own service dogs, but once they have completed the program, participants are invited to volunteer to help fellow veterans train their service dogs.

Newport Harbor Elks Lodge #1767 donated $1,200 to Freedom Service Dogs from funds they were awarded by Elks National Association for an Anniversary Grant. The donation helps cover the costs of vaccinations, medical care, food, shelter, grooming, and basic training for the dogs. In addition, a plaque with Newport Harbor Elks name will be displayed on a kennel for 12-full months. The lodge will also be recognized in the FSDI annual report.

To learn more about Freedom Support Dogs visit the website at the following link: https://freedomservicedogs.org/.