Award-winning radio show host, TV personality and New York Times bestselling author Bobby Bones is teaming up with Purina Dog Chow for its third annual Service Dog Salute campaign. The initiative connects America's military veterans with service dogs.
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"I have always known that dogs have the ability to impact lives, but understanding the impact service dogs have on veterans truly blew me away," Bones said in a press release. "I am a proud supporter of the men and women who have risked their lives for our country and am honored to be a part of Dog Chow's program to support the care and training of more life-saving service dogs for these brave veterans."
Per Purina's website, Dog Chow is helping to fund organizations who train service dogs for veterans with PTSD and other post-combat challenges. From September 1, 2020 through November 26, 2020, Purina Dog Chow will donate two cents per specially-marked 20 lb, 35 lb, 50 lb, and 57 lb bags of Dog Chow Complete Adult With Chicken to their two partnering veteran service dog organizations (up to $100,000). The donations will be split equally between The Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) Pets and Vets program and Got Your Six Support Dogs.
"As a veteran, I am sensitive to the many issues fellow veterans face as they transition after their service; those who faced combat often have the greatest challenges" said Steve Degnan, Chief Human Resources Officer for Nestlé Purina North America. "It's a privilege to be able to help my fellow service members, and I am proud that Dog Chow supports our nation's military veterans in such an important and needed way."
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Generous donations will offset the $20,000+ cost to acquire a service dog, which less than 1 percent of veterans in need can afford.
Purina's also working with members of Congress to promote the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act (HR4305). If passed, the act will increase veterans' access to service dogs as a treatment option, change the existing Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) policy to recognize service dogs as a treatment option for PTSD and create a program within the VA allowing veterans to train service dogs for their personal use or for other veterans facing physical disabilities.
For more information, visit dogchow.com/service.
Bones, the national on-air personality behind the Bobby Bones Show, has appeared on shows ranging from ABC network series American Idol and Dancing With the Stars to National Geographic's Breaking Bobby Bones.
For more on Bones' involvement in Purina's third annual Service Dog Salute campaign plus his Arkansas roots, early memories of his country music fandom and his experience appearing on the ACM Awards during the COVID-19 pandemic, check out our Fan 2 Fan video interview with him below. It debuted on Sept. 30: the final day of National Service Dog Awareness Month.
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