Hampshire vet spreads the word on service dogs
Dan Sauer, the Hampshire veteran who uses a pint-size service dog to help him cope with his post-traumatic stress disorder, wanted me to share the name of the group in which he secured his dog, Chloe.
The former Marine sergeant got Chloe from Morgan's Dogs Training Facility in Chicago, through a nonprofit program called War Dogs Making it Home.
The group rescues dogs from “death row” at animal shelters and trains some of them to be service dogs. Veterans with PTSD or traumatic brain injuries then adopt the animals to guide them through life.
Sauer originally wanted to get a service dog through the Veterans Affairs department, but said the red tape and lengthy waiting list forced him to go out on his own. Chloe, a 17-pound poodle mix, helps Sauer sleep more soundly by waking him out of his nightmares and controls his aggression by forcing him to pay attention to her, which makes him go back to a situation more calmly.
We're sharing this information so any veterans with PTSD or traumatic brain injuries who want a service dog, can get the ball rolling on their own. The website is wardogsmakingithome.org
Pancakes with St. Nick: If you've ever had a burning desire to eat pancakes with Santa, here's your chance. Carpentersville's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5915 is holding a pancake breakfast with the man on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 8 a.m. until noon at the post, 301 Lake Marian Road.The breakfast is helping the Outlaws Little League team raise money to support their trip to Cooperstown, N.Y., in which they will play at the Dreams Park Youth Tournament. The American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame is also in Cooperstown. The breakfast, which features all-you-can-eat pancakes with all of the trimmings, has a suggested donation of $7 a person. Members from the Outlaws baseball team will be serving up your breakfast.As part of the event, there will be a coloring contest for kids and local vendors offering stocking stuffers. For information, call Laurie Patti at (847) 426-8122.Christmas present and future: The Dundee Township Historical Society is holding its #8220;Dickens of a Sale#8221; fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 401 W. Main St., West Dundee.It takes place during the Dickens in Dundee festival, and all proceeds will benefit the historical society. You are invited to shop after you watch the Spirit of Christmas Parade #8212; items from Christmas past, Christmas present and Christmas future will be on sale. They include Nativity sets, wrapping paper, Bob Guge birds and Salisbury pewter. For more information, visit dundeetownshiphistorical.org.#376; Lenore Adkins covers Carpentersville, Huntley, the Dundees, Hampshire and Sleepy Hollow. To reach her, call (847) 608-2725 or send an email to ladkins@dailyherald.com.