Community News

Volunteer Group Raises $250,000 – Sponsors 41 Service Dogs To Assist Vets

A local group of 30 dedicated volunteers just surpassed the $250,000 donated milestone, sponsoring 41 highly trained service dogs thus far to assist our Veterans and first responders in need.

“Friends of America’s Vet Dogs” was established in 2015 with the sole mission of helping our Veterans have a better life by getting them a service dog free of charge.  The all-volunteer non-profit community service group does this through America’s Vet Dogs, a 501c3 located in Smithtown.

Each dog sponsored by the group, which was founded by Sayville residents Cliff Miller and Patricia Summers, is carefully named to honor an unsung hero of our military, someone who brought great credit to our military, or to recognize someone / someplace that significantly helped a Veteran in need.  One of the group’s sponsored dogs, Sully, served President George H. W. Bush until his death, and now continues to serve Veterans every day at Walter Reed Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

“Friends of America’s Vet Dogs” was honored by the staff and CEO of America’s Vet Dogs John Miller at their Smithtown facility this week for reaching the $250,000 milestone.  There are 30 active members of the group, which raises awareness and funding for the crucial service with an annual Chinese Auction event, hosting information tables at community events, holding other fundraiser events and by speaking at local libraries, labor unions, civic associations, Veteran organizations, etc.

Members of the group are hopeful they will be able to sponsor their 42nd service dog by year’s end. They can be reached by writing to: Friends of America’s Vet Dogs, Attention Cliff Miller, PO Box 18, Bohemia, NY 11716-0018 or by email at vetdogs@aol.com   Donations are tax deductible and checks should be made payable to America’s Vet Dogs.

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