Rebuilding Warriors with Man’s Best Friend
Kean University Student Government is raising money to help student veterans adjust to civilian life with the help of service dogs from the organization Rebuilding Warriors.
Recently, two veterans who say their lives were saved by their service dogs stopped by a Student Government meeting and encouraged everyone on campus to support the effort.
John Durrenberger was discharged as a U.S. Army Specialist after a parachute accident and injury to his back. He told the student leaders that his German Shepherd Kilmer has helped him rebuild his life after the accident.
“I went down a rough path and Kilmer here pretty much turned my life around,” he said. “If it wasn’t for him, I would not be here.”
Student Government hopes to raise $25,000 to train two service dogs through Rebuilding Warriors, a charity that trains and provides the dogs to veterans who have been honorably discharged and who have PTSD or physical challenges. The dogs will go to student veterans at Kean and Ocean County College, the University’s partner at Kean Ocean in Toms River.
“All of us who are involved in this project are proud to give back to our veterans,” said Damion Wilson of Boonton, president of Kean Student Government. “Service dogs help veterans who once doubted their ability to accomplish their daily tasks to lead productive lives.”
Rebuilding Warriors Vice President of Operations Jeff Mullins has a service dog – a bull terrier labrador mix named Zoey – and says Zoey knows him so well that she can read his moods.
“When I get a little anxious or frustrated driving in the car, Zoey pulls my right arm under her to break the thought that I was having,” he said.
Rebuilding Warriors has provided 64 service dogs to veterans nationwide, four of them in New Jersey. On May 1, Student Government will announce the two student veterans – out of the more than 200 veterans enrolled at Kean – who will receive dogs after they go through training.
“All of the donations are going to help another veteran, and I cannot thank you all enough,” said Durrenberger.
To learn more about the Student Government service dog fundraising campaign, call (908) 737-5191.
ABOUT REBUILDING WARRIORS
Rebuilding Warriors provides highly trained and socialized Service/Companion Dogs to veterans diagnosed as amputees as well as those with PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). Most of our dogs are bred especially for this mission and have a highly sought after demeanor. We provide these dogs to honorably discharged veterans from any branch of the Armed Forces or from any service era meeting our eligibility standards.