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Connecticut Non-Profit to Pair Guide Dogs With Wounded Soldiers and Veterans

fidelco.org
Stanley, a Fidelco guide dog.
It takes two years, 15,000 hours, and $45,000 to breed, train, and place a Fidelco Guide Dog.

The Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation has received a federal grant of $106,000 to place two German Shepherd guide dogs with disabled service members and veterans.

Federal legislation established the grant program to provide guide dogs to service members and veterans.

According to the foundation's press release, the two German Shepherds will provided at no cost to military service members or veterans who experienced injuries while on active duty that resulted in visual impairment.

The Bloomfield-based group has been placing German Shepherds with military personnel and veterans since its founding in 1960. The foundation said demand is rising, particularly due to traumatic eye injuries from combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Fidelco President Eliot Russman and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal will join veteran Arthur Warren and his guide dog, Zeke, on Thursday to highlight how the federal grant will help train and pair guide dogs with soldiers and veterans.

Credit Dannel Malloy flickr.com/photos/governordanmalloy/5752414654 / Creative Commons
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Creative Commons
A Fidelco dog walks with Gov. Dannel Malloy during the 30th Annual Fidelco Walk in 2011, in Manchester, Connecticut.

It takes two years, 15,000 hours, and $45,000 to breed, train, and place a Fidelco Guide Dog.

Fidelco has also placed German Shepherds with law enforcement agencies, search and rescue, and missing child recovery organizations.

Leyda Quast is an intern at WNPR. This report includes information from The Associated Press.

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