WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Building on a 100 year legacy of helping active duty heroes, veterans their families, and military animals, American Humane Association today announced that it is teaming up with the Military Working Dog Team Support Association, Inc. (MWDTSA) to provide vitally needed care packages for America's active duty military dog teams while deployed to combat zones overseas. Some of these teams only have a rucksack to live out of for weeks at a time, and American Humane Association's K-9 Battle Buddies™ program will work with MWDTSA to provide care packages to these heroes, containing vital necessities as well as the comforts of home. Each care package is created for the dog and handler with their favorite things from home, packed with love by volunteers.
The MWDTSA is an all-volunteer organization with a mission to "support both ends of the leash." The group sends hundreds of care packages to military dog teams around the world every quarter. In 2014 alone, they sent 518 packages, helping some 1,100 dogs and handlers. American Humane Association paid for the postage to ship the fourth quarter 2015 packages, and will continue to support this effort at an even higher level in 2016, underwriting postage costs, donating supplies for the packages, and hosting "packing parties" at its offices in Washington, D.C. and Palm Beach, Florida.
"America's brave military working dogs live, fight and sleep with their human handlers and forge a bond that cannot easily be broken," said Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane Association's President and CEO. "They save lives both on and off the battlefield and it is our duty to support these K-9 Battle Buddy teams that keep America safe. We are honored to work with the MWDTSA to provide care packages to active duty military dog teams because we have long admired their committed group of dedicated volunteers and we share their mission of honoring heroes on both ends of the leash."
"We are thrilled to partner with American Humane Association to continue to provide much needed items to the brave men and women who have taken up arms with their canine partners to secure, defend and maintain this great nation," said MWDTSA president, Nikki Rohrig. "These teams are leading the pack while patrolling on foreign soil and they deserve everything that we can provide for them. Our volunteers are active because we believe in these dedicated teams and we want them to know that we support them not only while they are overseas, but also when they come home. Our volunteer 'paycheck' comes in the form of smiles and tail wags!"
To learn more about American Humane Association please visit www.AmericanHumane.org and to learn more about the Military Working Dog Team Support Association, please visit www.MWDTSA.org.
About American Humane Association
American Humane Association is the country's first national humane organization and the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Since 1877, American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting our most vulnerable from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today we're also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today.
About the Military Working Dog Team Support Association
The all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit (TIN# 13-4346918) is dedicated to supporting Military Working Dog teams deployed overseas with all four military services. A "team" is a dog and a handler and their mission is force protection—explosives detection, tracking, patrolling, specialized search and drug detection. The handlers and dogs put their own lives at risk to save the lives of other soldiers every day. The MWDTSA has sent care packages to 150+ deployed teams each quarter since 2006. Each box contains treats, toys and grooming tools, as well as snacks and hygiene items for the handlers. The organization's unofficial motto is: "To support both ends of the leash." The organization hosts a website (www.mwdtsa.org), Facebook page (http://facebook.com/mwdtsa) and Twitter feed (#mwdtsa). Additional information is available from the MWDTSA's president, Nikki Rohrig at 276-614-4897, or Col. Dick Baumer, vice president, at 561-328-8658.
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SOURCE American Humane Association
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