Indian River Colony Club Foundation $5,000 Donation Provides Trained Service Dogs to Qualified Veterans

Veterans never pay for their service dogs, but are responsible for their care after placement

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA — For the second time, the veterans at Indian River Colony Club have donated to Patriot Service Dogs of Ocala to help make life better for their brothers and sisters in arms.

A $5,000 grant check was presented in June by the Indian River Colony Club Foundation to representatives from the nonprofit organization that matches trained service dogs to veterans with a range of issues, including PTSD.

The grant will support the launch of a new initiative, Service Dog 101: A Class for Veterans Considering a Service Dog. The free online class will provide clear, consistent, and accessible information for veterans in a supportive format. Patriot Service Dog puppies are raised and trained for approximately two years, at a cost of up to $20,000, before being given to a qualifying veteran.

Veterans never pay for their service dogs, but are responsible for their care after placement. The Indian River Colony Club Foundation represents the Viera, Florida, community, which is primarily comprised of military veterans.

The ongoing practice of donating to a variety of veterans’ causes and charities embodies the community motto of “Service to Those Who Served.” The $5,000 grant follows the Foundation’s 2024 outreach to Patriot Service Dogs of Ocala.

For more information about the charitable work of the Indian River Colony Club Foundation, call 321-255-6000.

The veterans of the Indian River Colony Club have dedicated their lives to military service and continue their efforts in retirement, with a range of ongoing initiatives aimed at improving the lives of Brevard County veterans and the regional military community.

They know first-hand that when veterans come out of the military, they are often changed and in need of support. In 1998, members of the 55+ community created the philanthropic IRCC Foundation to help address the needs of their brothers and sisters in arms.

For Victoria Sandersen, Volunteer Coordinator and Lead Trainer for Patriot Service Dogs, the continued support of the Indian River Colony Club Foundation has a direct impact on the organization’s ability to match qualified veterans with highly trained service dogs.

“Patriot Service Dogs receives calls each month from veterans in crisis who have tried multiple treatment options for a range of issues with limited success,” said Ms. Sanderson. “Their random searches for information on service dogs often leaves them confused and overwhelmed. The contributions from the Foundation will help us provide clear and easy to understand guidance for these veterans.”

Indian River Colony Club resident and retired Marine, Jack DeFreytas received his Patriot Service Dog last year and is now deeply bonded with his “Bailey Boy.” He has nothing but praise and gratitude for the Patriot Service Dogs organization. “Bailey is not my dog. I am honored and privileged to be his Marine,” said DeFreytas. “The world would be a better place if more people had a buddy like Bailey.”

IRCC Foundation member Sarah Kedzierski added her thoughts about the $5,000 grant for Patriot Service Dogs of Ocala.

“If just one veteran’s life is changed for the better, then this contribution from the residents of Indian River Colony Club will be well spent.”

Anyone interested in donating to Patriot Service Dogs can sponsor a dog, sponsor a veteran, and/or send a check in any amount to 603 E Fort King Street, Ocala, Florida 34471.

Founded in 2009 and based in Marion County, Florida, Patriot Service Dogs trains high-quality service dogs for veterans without charge. The organization is an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International, the leading authority on assistance dogs worldwide. The dogs are trained to assist veterans struggling with a range of issues, including PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Sexual Trauma, mobility loss, and more.

Once matched, the dogs receive advanced training specific to their veteran’s needs. To date, Patriot Service Dogs has trained over 70 service dog teams and has become the smallest organization to receive accreditation from Assistance Dogs International, the standard-setting authority in the assistance dogs industry.

The two-year training each puppy undergoes is supported by sponsorship donations and conducted by volunteer puppy raisers and incarcerated women in the WOOF Prison Program at Lowell Correctional Facility. This dual training program creates a unique bond between volunteer members of the community, incarcerated women, sponsorship donors, and the veteran recipients.

With an average of 15-20 dogs in training at any time, Patriot Service Dogs is not a large organization, but its size is its strength. No volunteer, veteran, sponsor, or dog is just a name on a spreadsheet. Patriot Service Dogs is a community working hard together to improve the lives of veterans. Patriot Service Dogs is a registered 501(c)(3) organization–EIN 27-0537995.

To learn more, visit Patriotservicedogs.org.

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