The first event to support a new program for veterans known as Healing Hearts & Paws was held in June at the Blue Moose Bed & Biscuit in Soldotna. The creation of Mike and Ellen Adlam the program will be the first of its kind in the nation. “This project will permit Veterans with PTS an opportunity to use dog therapy to help manage their PTS symptoms. It will provide veterans an opportunity to work with a variety of dogs to learn dog training and handling skills before obtaining a PTS service dog. Over the course of 12 weeks, participants will train one-on-one with our trainers three times weekly and will also work with our staff to learn about behavior, handling, and management of dogs in group settings. The program gives Veterans an introduction to the animal training arena and the beginning skill set necessary for more successfully handling of a PTS service dog,” Adlam told the Dispatch in an interview. “The fundraiser was a great success! We needed to know that we had the community behind us and they stepped up amazingly well. We raised $5500 in grassroots support and we are able to leverage other funds because of it. For a program that hasn’t even started yet, we did really well!! We turned the wall of guns 3 times, we had a few guys buy hundreds of dollars’ worth of tickets for the gun wall because it was for a great cause. Our fire pit from Davis Block was one of our card game prizes and it was a hot seller, no pun intended. All of our gifts were amazing!! When our community comes together, they really do a good job!! To all who donated gifts and prizes, thank you, you truly made it happen! We will do you all proud as we care for our Veterans and welcome them home to their families and our community,” she said.

Visitors to the Healing Hearts & Paws event were also treated to a barn hunt demonstration by Scenting Sports of Alaska, where dogs search and find live rats hidden in containers among bails of straw. As awareness of the pilot program grows community support is increasing says Adlam, “Unique to our program is our inclusion of each Veteran’s healthcare team to ensure improved physical and mental health for the Veteran. Both individual and group counseling and completion of the Mental Health First Aid Program are program components that help to lessen the stigma associated with mental health issues. We work closely with our VA, Federal, and Tribal healthcare partners to ensure that participant Veterans obtain the best possible services for their physical and mental well-being. We’d like to thank Jersey Subs for the awesome sandwiches, the Odom Corp. for the coca cola fountain and beer; The Berry Company, Country Liquor, and the Seldons for the wine, and to all those generous folks who came to support us with set up, tear down, and participation! It was an amazing night that we can’t wait to do it again,” said Adlam. Get more details on Healing Hearts & Paws by visiting Blue Moose Bed & Biscuit on Lovers Lane in Soldotna.