By uniting Military Veterans and rehabilitated Shelter Dogs, we are rescuing one to rescue another.

July 4th, Independence Day….the memories growing up. The parades and picnics. Sunshine and heat. But that didn’t matter, we were kids, we didn’t get hot. I remember waiting with the kids in the neighborhood for dark, the older boys lighting off small fire crackers, laughing. My favorite was the *sparklers*. I would write my name and spin in circles over and over again till dizzy. Then the Fireworks would start, quiet fills the air, except for the simultaneous “ ooohs and awwwwees”. I loved the way you could feel the fireworks going off, my heart shaking at times. Sound familiar? Well, this year I have a whole new perspective. I cherish those memories, wanting to reach back and grab the innocence….

“Home of the Free because of the Brave”

I got to spend this Independence Day weekend with 2 of those Brave….

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Introducing our Stiggys Dogs Support Your Military for the month of July. Here is how you can help….

If you own a business, or know of someone who does, or works where we can hang our Paw Prints (for $! donations): gas stations, Boutiques, stores, restaurant, Dr. offices, etc. We also can include or choose to have a donation jar

Please help spread these paws all across America! Support our Military Veterans

email rebecca@stiggysdogs.org for more information!!!

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Army Veteran Mike Hopp has been patiently waiting for his Stiggys Dog for almost 8 months. At the time we received his initial application we were already beginning our first training class. We could only take 4 dogs through it, and Mike was the 5th person to receive one. I know this was hard for Mike, as I heard from him almost weekly. His excitement watching the other dogs and Veterans go through the program only made his rise. Mike had asked if he could come down and train, spend sometime with the Veterans and Dogs to get a feel of it. Gladly Mike came down for a few weekends and nights, working and training with the dogs that weren’t his.

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To say ‘Thank You’ seems insignificant for the gratitude I feel. It’s hard for me to put into words the outpouring of support Stiggy’s Dogs received from the Channel 4 News story and my ‘cry for help’….

It all started after the realization that Stiggy’s Dogs was in trouble, after paying the bills at the end of May, the bank account sitting at $100. How did it get to this? I tossed and turned for nights. Knowing I was doing everything I could, literally working around the clock for months, not having enough time and manpower to it all. But I knew one thing, I was NOT going to let Stiggy’s Dogs fail. I have always been very open and honest on my blog throughout this whole process.  It is important for me to show the ups and downs of starting/running a nonprofit, the struggles with the dogs and training, the highlights of seeing the results we have witnessed already from our Veterans and dogs. So why stop now? I needed to ask for help, but putting down what I needed to say was very hard. To admit (somewhat) defeat, and embarrassingly show how raw and desperate I was….for the sake of Stiggy’s future……

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His name tells his story, he is a ‘trooper’ to still be alive.  A few ‘angels’  helped him along the way to his final destination, a Service Dog for a Veteran….

I got the call from Brenda Woody of Better Life Canine Center, telling me she had a dog she thought was great for our program. Being familiar with us, as Tiger another Stiggy’s Dog also came form the same rescue group.  I went to her Facebook page and read the notes about his story, the picture of how skinny he was, no fur growth, unhealed wounds….I was instantly moved.  Here is part of the story I read:

April 2nd - His first day!

“Buddy” showed up in the yard of a concrete company in Detroit. Some of the caring employees, Joe and Jim, fed him, made a house for him, and looked for him everyday, even though “Buddy” was terrified of them at first. Soon “Buddy” let them pet his head and suddenly “Buddy” showed the love all dogs have!! Unfortunately some of the employees were not so concerned and their plan was to shoot “Buddy” and throw him in the river! Joe and Jim Better Life Canine Center and we got him into the vet! His future will be incredible! We changed his name to Trooper. We have no idea what his life has been, but we are certain he is lucky to be alive!!

Donna Fournier, or Director of Training and I went to meet Trooper the next day. It took one visit and Trooper became part of our training team.. (more…)