The City of Reno has announced its partnership with Liberty Dogs. A city employee will help raise a puppy who will then go on to help a veteran.
Liberty Dogs is a nonprofit organization that works to provide highly trained service dogs to local veterans.
They tell us this partnership means a lot to them because they're hopeful other local organizations will follow the city's lead and volunteer to raise a puppy.
Ondra Berry, CEO of Liberty Dogs, said, "Showing us what's possible when a city, its employees, a nonprofit organization, and a generous partner unite around a shared purpose, and this is really a shared purpose for us, honoring veterans with disabilities and helping them reclaim greater independence, confidence, and hope."
Its mission is to continue finding ways to help veterans live a better life. They tell us how impactful this can be for someone who faces daily challenges.
"They have now become a part of the mission that can change, and I'll just say this in all sincerity: potentially save a life, and sometimes I don't know if people really understand how critical and how important that is, and some of the things that our veterans have to deal with," said Berry.
We spoke with the City of Reno employee who will be helping raise the puppy, named, Reno.
She said they'll have weekly training sessions with Liberty Dogs to continue strengthening his skills to be ready for a veteran.
She added how excited she is to watch him grow while getting to know more of his personality and the rewarding feelings that come with bringing him to his new home.
Jenifer Alvarez, the Puppy Raiser who works for the City of Reno told us, "I actually was interested in volunteering, and once we started working more with Liberty Dogs and learning about what they're doing and how they support our community, I really wanted to make sure that I got the opportunity to raise Reno."
Liberty Dogs tells us that the two-year mark of age is when they find it best to transition the dog into the veterans' home.
The placements are based on the dogs’ strongest skills and the veterans’ needs.
After eight to ten years, the dog will be ready to retire and enjoy the rest of their life.
Laura Edwards, the Chief Canine Officer for Liberty Dogs, said, "In most cases, veterans are comfortable and able to keep the dog in their home, but in other cases, that's not feasible for their lifestyle, so the dog can always come back to Liberty Dogs. We take care of our own throughout their lifespan, and we will find them a retirement home if that doesn't suit the needs of the veteran."
