Local veterans group gets national exposure

  • Published
  • By Ryan Stark
  • Nucleus writer
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  A local group that connects disabled veterans with dogs is coming into the national spotlight, thanks to a new TV documentary series -- "Dogs of War" -- which premiered on the A&E cable network Nov. 11, Veterans Day.

Paws and Stripes, based in Rio Rancho, provides service dogs for military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

Jim and Lindsey Stanek founded Paws and Stripes in June 2010. Jim Stanek has said the organization grew from his own need for a service dog after he was diagnosed with severe PTSD.

In Iraq, Stanek worked in special operations, raided houses and patrolled populated areas. He said his vehicle was struck by fire 27 times. Stanek's organization allows other veterans with PTSD choose their service dogs from a rescue shelter. For six months after that, the veterans and the dogs attend private and group training sessions together.

"Dogs of War" follows veterans as they work with the dogs and struggle with personal demons. Shawn Bacoccini, Paws and Stripes' development director, said the idea for the series originated from within the nonprofit.

"We've created a resource where one didn't exist," he said. "We are unique in that we rescue the dog. We don't give the veteran a pretrained dog."

The organization recruited a production company and pitched the series to A&E, which signed on to air the series.

Aside from promoting the work of Paws and Stripes and the achievements of the veterans it serves, Bacoccini said he hopes "Dogs of War" will cast a spotlight on veterans' issues.

"We want the public to understand the plight of veterans as they go through their recovery," he said. "If potential donors get the message too, that'd be great. But the idea is to really carry the message of Paws and Stripes to the veteran who needs that support."

The series is scheduled to air new episodes on Sunday nights.

To learn more about the show, go to aetv.com/dogs-of-war. For more information about Paws and Stripes, go to www.pawsandstripes.org.