Tears of joy at Pups Patrol
The annual Pups Patrol for Heroes celebration and dog walk was held April 27 at the Rehoboth Bandstand. Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation and American Warrior Initiative donate funds for procurement, training, and placement of service dogs with local veterans along with partner organization Tails of Valor.
After the presentations, the dogs and their humans headed to the Boardwalk. More than $25,000 was raised.
Gold Star mother Karen Vaughn shared her story of her only son, Aaron Carson Vaughn, who was a SEAL Team 6 member. “Aaron died for the American way of life, and it demands protection,” she said. If anyone thinks that this country is in bad shape, she encouraged them to turn off the TV and step away from social media, and instead go to a Friday night high school football game, or drive by a church on Sunday to see where America really is.
Heather Lloyd from Tails of Valor explained how animal-assisted therapy can change lives. A young cattle dog rescue was named for Aaron Carson Vaughn, who served for nine years and lost his life Aug. 6, 2011.
Veteran Jason Harrar is a proud recipient of a service dog named Loftus, after a fallen soldier. He spoke of his trauma and attempted suicides, and said when he met Loftus, he knew he had hope.
