McMinnville Veteran & Therapy Dog Honored for #StillServing

McMinnville veteran Dave Cutter and his certified therapy dog Lucy are being honored for dedication to country and community in the VFW #StillServing campaign. The national Veterans of Foreign Wars #StillServing campaign recognizes veterans who continue to serve in their community after the military.

A US Navy veteran, Cutter and his certified therapy dogs have volunteered weekly at the Oregon Veterans Home in Lebanon since 2018 doing pet therapy visits for the 150 veteran residents and staff. He started with Ike, a 165-pound Newfoundland and Great Pyrenees mix, and added Ike’s sister Lucy when she was old enough to get certified. Ike has since passed, but 150-pound Lucy continues weekly, rain, sleet or snow.

In 2020 when the pandemic precluded inside visits, Cutter and Lucy walked around the building interacting through the windows as best they could, including a dismal day in December 2020 when they stood in the pouring rain, cheering up a resident (above).

Cutter says he is #StillServing because the joy the dogs bring to all is a blessing and it is his privilege and honor to share in the experience.

According to the 2021 Veterans Civic Health Index1, veterans average nearly 30 percent more volunteer hours per year and outpace civilians 15 percent in charitable donations. Additionally, nearly 40 percent more veterans belong to a group working on community issues and veterans are more like to be registered to vote (7 percent) and have recently voted (6 percent).

VFW invites all veterans to share stories of how they are #StillServing at vfw.org/stillserving.