NY Jets' Eric Decker Teams with Veterinary Pet Insurance to Fund the Rescue, Training and Uniting of Service Dogs with Veterans with Disabilities

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Apr 22, 2014, 08:00 ET

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., April 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of National Pet Parent's Day on April 27, Deckers Dogs is teaming up with Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) to raise money to help fund the rescue, care and training of service dogs for our military veterans returning home with disabilities. From April 22 through Memorial Day (May 26), VPI will donate $5 (up to $10,000) to Deckers Dogs for every free pet insurance quote generated on petparentsday.com.

NY Jets' Eric Decker and "Deckers Dogs" Team with Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) to Celebrate Pet Parent's Day. For every new quote generated at petparentsday.com through Memorial Day (May 26), VPI will donate $5 to Deckers Dogs to help fund the rescue, care and training of service dogs for our military veterans returning home with disabilities. (PRNewsFoto/Deckers Dogs)

New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker and his wife, singer Jessie James Decker, established Deckers Dogs in September of 2013 to provide support to Freedom Service Dogs' Operation Freedom. Operation Freedom was developed to help returning war veterans and military personnel transition from active duty and combat to civilian life. Active duty service members and veterans with disabilities are placed with highly specialized service dogs that help them find a new level of independence in their post-combat life.

For a typical service dog, the journey from shelter to service costs approximately $25,000. With the help of the public's support, Deckers Dogs has already funded the care and custom training for three service dogs in just six months.

"Pet Parent's Day recognizes the human-animal bond and the commitment pet owners give to their furry family members," said Eric Decker. "We're proud to partner with VPI to help build new bonds between those rescued service dogs and our wounded warriors as we free a hero to save a hero."

About Deckers Dogs
In partnership with Freedom Service Dogs of America (FSD), Deckers Dogs was founded by New York Jets' wide receiver Eric Decker and his wife, Jessie James to provide needed service dogs to returning military personnel and veterans with a service-connected disability. Freedom Service Dogs is a charitable organization. With increased financial support, FSD can rescue, train and provide even more service dogs to those in need. Clients include children, veterans and active duty soldiers, and other adults. Their disabilities include Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Cerebral Palsy, spinal cord injuries, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

About Veterinary Pet Insurance
Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), a member of the Nationwide Insurance family of companies, is the first and largest pet insurance company in the United States with more than 500,000 insured pets. VPI plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. CareGuard^® coverage for routine care is available for an additional premium. Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Additionally, one in three Fortune 500 companies offers Veterinary Pet Insurance as an employee benefit. Policies are offered and administered by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and DVM Insurance Agency in all other states. Underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (CA), Brea, CA, an A.M. Best A rated company (2012); National Casualty Company (all other states), Madison, WI, an A.M. Best A+ rated company (2012). Pet owners can find VPI Pet Insurance on Facebook or follow @VPI on Twitter. For more information about VPI Pet Insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit petinsurance.com.