Partners in healing

DOG TAGS

DOG TAGS brings together wounded Soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center with homeless dogs here at the Washington Humane Society.  This innovative three-tiered program teaches Soldiers the basics of dog training, with a certificate based educational curriculum that gives them the opportunity to pursue a future career in the field of animal training, care, and welfare.  In the process of gaining skills for themselves, the Soldiers provide the homeless animals with training, socialization, and love which increases their adoption rate and retention in their new homes.

How It Began

Having long been neighbors, the dogs here at the Washington Humane Society and the wounded Soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center often bumped into each other on daily walks.  The joy of the Soldiers and flurry of wagging tails made it clear that there was a natural bond.  Understanding the power of such a strong connection, the Washington Humane Society developed DOG TAGS.  The program brings dogs and wounded Soldiers together in order to teach, learn, and strengthen the bonds that heal.

The Program

• Injured Soldiers who volunteer to be in the program come to the Washington Humane Society’s Behavior & Learning Center, located across the street
  from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, twice a week to learn and study animal training and behavior in a vocational setting.
• The program is 3 tiered, certificate based, designed for the student focusing on a future career working with animals or the student that is simply
  interested in the recreational, hobbyist level of learning and spending time with animals.
• Each tier of the program is 8 weeks in duration and sequentially builds upon the previous level, giving the Soldiers skill sets that are required to
  become professionals in the animal training field.
• All instruction is based on humane, motivational methods of training.
• WHS absorbs all financial related costs for this program.

Support DOG TAGS

As we continue to reach out to wounded Soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and provide care and training to animals in need, it is the support of the public that allows DOG TAGS to continue and grow.

The Washington Humane Society is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and the DOG TAGS program relies solely on public donation.

We appreciate the community's continued support as we strengthen the bond between humans and animals, creating friendships and experience to last a lifetime.

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In-Kind Donations Needed for this Program:

LCD Projector - Thank you, Labrador Retriever Rescue (LRR)
Dry Erase Board with Easle -
Bait bags & Treats - Thank you, Labrador Retriever Rescue (LRR)
Scruffy Guider Collars (can be purchased at www.mistypinesdogpark.com) -
New or used laptop computer -