Chico Chapter had some very special guests for our meeting on November 19, 2022. Bruce Riecke of VFW Post 9650 in Anderson, who is director of the Service Dog Training Program, was our guest speaker. Along with Bruce was one of the teams’ trainers Patty Kelly-Korteum and her husband Jim and her dog Finley, who is a fully trained service dog and one of the organization’s demonstration dogs. They also brought Lucy a young demonstration dog in training.

The Service Dog Training Program provides dogs to veterans who suffer from PTSD. The objective of this program is to give back to veterans who gave of themselves to serve our county, sustaining both injuries visible and those we cannot see. This includes services for female veterans who have suffered sexual harassment or assault. The program assists in locating, matching, and training a K9 to the level desired by the veteran and to provide both assistance and companionship. The training is for both the K9 and the veteran. The K9 matching and veteran participation in training has proven to make the bond exceptionally strong and necessary for optimum service dog work. The same program is active in VFW Post 8358 in Sacramento.

Certificates of appreciation were given to the participants along with a bag of chews for our four-legged guests, compliments of our regent. Service for Veterans Chair, Alma Roots, was honored to present Bruce with a certificate thanking him for his service during the Vietnam War along with a Vietnam veterans pin.