Take your support of veterans ‘on the road’ with new license plate
Then Smoky Mountain Service Dogs needs your help to meet its goal of pre-selling 1,000 specialty plates this summer.
Smoky Mountain Service Dogs, located in East Tennessee, trains mobility assistance service dogs for veterans with service-connected physical and psychological disabilities.
The nonprofit has helped veterans, such as retired U.S. Army First Sgt. Charles Stewart, regain their lives.
Stewart served 26 years and participated in seven combat tours.
He is a 100 percent Veterans Affairs disabled veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder. Smoky Mountain Service Dogs trained and provided Sadie, a Labrador retriever, for Stewart.
“Sadie gives me confidence and the ability to be more mobile through her mobility assistance, and calms me during my PTSD episodes,” Stewart said.
“I find myself having structure back in my life just being with her 24 hours a day. My family has seen the change in me as my wife has commented that I show sides of me before I was ever in the service.
“I am truly blessed to have gone through this experience with Smoky Mountain Service Dogs.”
To purchase the plate and help the organization train more dogs for wounded veterans, visit smokymountainservicedogs.org .
The nonprofit is an all-volunteer organization except for professional trainers, so 95 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to the organization’s mission.
It costs approximately $25,000 to train one mobility assistance service dog, which the organization places with a deserving veteran at no cost to the veteran.
Smoky Mountain Service Dogs relies on grants, donations and fundraisers for operating expenses, and is recognized by Assistance Dogs International as the only accredited service dog organization in Tennessee.
“To see the loving bond that develops between a veteran and his or her beloved service dog is extremely gratifying,” said Suzy Kitchens, co-founder of Smoky Mountain Service Dogs.
“With a service dog by their side, veterans’ lives and their families and communities are changed forever because the veteran can finally acclimate back into society after experiencing what most of us Americans will never truly understand.
“These magnificent, highly trained mobility assistance service dogs are the hands and feet of their recipients and provide unconditional love and support.
“Please help us to continue to serve wounded veterans by taking Smoky Mountain Service Dogs on the road with you by purchasing one of these beautiful specialty plates.”
Smoky Mountain Service Dogs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is the only organization headquartered in Tennessee that is accredited by Assistance Dogs International.
Smoky Mountain Service Dogs is dedicated to enhancing the physical and psychological quality of life for wounded veterans and their families.
For more information, visit smokymountainservicedogs.org .