Nicole Johnson

Paws and Stripes, a nonprofit organization located at 4041 Barbara Loop SE in Rio Rancho, NM, was created by Jim Stanek and his wife Lindsey to assist military veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury by providing them with service dogs for free.

Paws and Stripes funds their program entirely through donations, scholarships and merchandise they may personally sell from various groups and individuals to provide equipment, training and initial veterinary care if the animal is adopted through their program.

According to pawsandstripes.org, Stanek, a former staff sergeant of the U.S Army s, as well as President of Veterans Affairs, suffered from several injuries including PTSD and TBI. Stanek trained his own service dog, a process he found rewarding, relaxing, and more effective than any pill or therapy session.

The service dogs are obtained from local animal shelters only and trained by professionals. Veterans that enroll in the program choose their own dog from one of the shelters and participate in the training of the animal.

The Staneks decided to form the Paw and Stripes organization because they wanted

to assist military veterans who suffered from similar injuries as Jim Stanek, according to pawsandstrips.org. Many women and men return from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from PTSD and TBI, both of which are not covered by insurance companies when the treatment is a service animal which can cost anywhere from $10,000-$60,000.

With Paws and Stripes the cost is $2,000 in which case the veteran would never have to pay, according to their website. Each animal that goes through the program is custom trained to assist the needs of its new owner. Every service dog serves a different purpose for its owner. Some dogs are trained to constantly guard their owner, and alert them when someone is approaching out of visibility, whereas others may be trained to place themselves between the veteran and a stranger if the stranger is beginning to invade the established personal space.

According to the website, to be eligible for enrollment the following criteria must be met:
servicemen or women from any military branch of the United States and any war campaign who have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and or Traumatic Brain Injury.

Discharges must have been honorable as the veteran must also be physically capable of attending and participating in training sessions as well as reinforcing training at all times.

According to the website, when the veteran is involved in every aspect of the program, it facilitates healing, builds self-esteem, increases the bond with the dog, and provides the veteran with the tools to maintain the dog’s training long after graduation.

For more information about Paws and Stripes, visit www.pawsandstripes.org or call 505-999-1201