Jesse Knott, is a soldier stationed at JBLM. Jesse served in Afghanistan and Iraq during some of its' worse times. He is also a hero to an abused little cat named Koshka. Jesse risked his life to rescue this tiny spirit in a fur coat and bring her back to live with his family in Oregon.
Jesse, like so many of our men and women, didn't come back the way he left and Jesse is getting the service dog he needs to help with his nerve damage and PTSD. You'd think that would be a good thing and it should be a wonderful time for him, but because of new regulations, Jesse is in danger of not getting his dog. So a local rescue, Valhalla Canine Rescue in Graham, WA. has stepped in to help.
A new regulation enacted earlier this year prohibits active military personnel from having service dogs while living on base, so Jesse has been told that he cannot live on base with his dog and must move out of the wounded transitional barracks. You can read about that new regulation here: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/06/04/12008294-controversial-army-policy-makes-it-difficult-for-soldiers-to-get-service-dogsfb_action_ids=10201077470438325&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_ref=AddThis_Blogs&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582
For Jesse there was no choice to make. He NEEDS this service dog. So to prepare Jesse had to suddenly rent an apartment at the same time he also needed to pay for a hotel, food, gas and all the other costs associated with attending 2 weeks of training and actually getting his dog in the Santa Rosa--Rohnert Park area of California by APRIL 21ST. The Army is not providing any assistance for this, not a thing, so Jesse must use his own money and personal leave time to get this vital part of his recovery. Between the apartment and everything else it has stretched his small military paycheck until it snapped and he feared his may not get his dog. In an attempt to avoid this loss, he reached out to a veterans group in Oregon and they reached out to the Director of Valhalla Rescue.
Valhalla immediately made a pledge to sponsor his service dog during his transition from military to civilian life. They are making sure he has food, treats, leashes, collars, bowls, beds, blankets, everything to welcome his new buddy home. They are also setting up a fund that they hope will help cover veterinary expenses for Jesse during his transition and beyond. That will give him one less thing to worry about. This group of amazing volunteers, many of them members of the military or married to military themselves, are even working to help furnish his apartment with things for life off base.
BUT, They need help for Jesse to actually get his dog. Jesse needs to stay for 2 weeks in the Santa Rosa - Rohnert Park, CA area for training with his new dog. The least expensive hotel Jesse has found so far is around $90 per night with his discount. That is $1350 not including taxes for the training. Jesse cannot afford that bill after renting his apartment. They would also like to help with that cost and gas for his drive down there and back. They have started seeking around $1800 to help cover these expenses so he can get his much needed partner and can concentrate on the training and bonding with his service dog.
A spokesperson for the rescue is quoted as saying, ''Jesse isn't the kind to ask for help, but it's obvious that he needs it. It's wrong that one of our wounded warriors has to go through all this stress just to get a service dog. Helping him is the least we can do to say for the sacrifice he made. Not to mention, he saved Koshka's life and will forever be a part of our animal rescue community. He deserves this and a lot more from us.''
They have less than 2 weeks to get donations to ensure Jesse is in CA by April 21st.
You can go on Facebook and like Valhalla Rescue's page for nightly updates on the tally and stay informed on Jesse and his journey. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Valhalla-Rescue/310205276280?fref=ts
Valhalla Rescue has set up a fund to accept donations to help Jesse get to CA for the 2 weeks he needs to train with his service dog. If you would like to donate to help this hero get his dog, You can send your tax deductible donations thru paypal, donate@valhallarescue.org. http://www.paypal.com/
Post your paypal donation as a PERSONAL GIFT and mention FOR JESSE in the memo box. This will ensure that 100% of your donation will go directly to help Jesse.
Comments