Pets often have a major impact on how successfully military veterans heal after physical or mental injuries while serving. However, many retired military servicemembers do not get to keep their beloved four-legged friends due to financial reasons upon returning from deployment. Two military vets, Marine Sgt. Dan Spangler and Army Ranger veteran Joe Trainor, have set out to change this.
Pets give military vets unconditional support after injuries
Spangler and his dog Spanky, along with Trainor and his furry companion C.T., recently started a 6,000-mile trek across the country. According to Fox8, the pair was last seen in Cleveland, Ohio. As a Cleveland native, Spangler is hoping that their journey will resonate with his friends, family and residents in the area.
The two veterans are out to support military families struggling to keep their pets through a program called Operation Keep Your Spanky. Spangler started the nonprofit organization after returning home from deployment in Iraq in 2003.
He was severely injured after jumping from his truck during gunfire and was sent back to the U.S. for medical treatment. During the painful months of recovery, Spangler adopted his dog Spanky from an animal shelter. They quickly became best friends as Spanky stood by his side while he recovered.
"I don't know where I would be without the companionship that my dog, Spanky, gave me when I came home from Iraq," Spangler explained to Fox8. "I want all veterans to have a Spanky, but it's a sad fact that military veterans often experience financial difficulties where they face the heartbreaking choice of giving up their pets."
Trainor also experienced a traumatic injury while serving in Afghanistan. He was impacted by brain damage which has caused him to go partially blind. Trainor told the news source that he was severely depressed before he met his loyal companion C.T. He feels strongly that his dog saved his life.
Vets aim to ease financial strains for military families and pets
Spangler and Trainor are hoping that their journey across the U.S. will raise awareness of the positive impact that dogs can have on injured vets and how many are unable to keep theirs because of factors like having to buy food regularly. The vets are aiming to raise money for these families to cover a lot of expensive necessities that come with having a pet.
According to NewsNet5, Spangler is currently focusing specifically on providing food and affordable veterinary care for retired servicemembers and their families. Those who want to donate can contribute a set amount or make per-mile pledges as low as 1 cent.
"It's going on journeys like this that will do nothing but raise awareness to save more lives in the end," Spangler told NewsNet5. "It all goes back to that sacrifice that we all signed up for in the military to begin with. You know, selfless service. Our duty, our honor, and all we're looking for is the American public to simply look at it and say that this isn't something we're out trying to say it will help veterans, it has," said Trainor.
Trainor and Spangler do not plan on using any of the money they make to help them buy food or shelter along their journey, pledging to give every cent they make to benefit the military families and their pets. Kurgo, a company that provides pet accessories, has already donated harnesses, seat covers and other useful products to Spangler's program.