WILLISTON, Fla. (WCJB) – A nonprofit in Williston that trains service dogs is a finalist in a national contest.
Leaders with Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs won $5,000 for advancing to the final round of the Defender Services Awards, presented by Chase. The nonprofit is categorized in the Veteran & Civil Servant Outreach category.
Chief Operating Officer Mary Jo Brandt says they’ve had 400 pairings in nearly 15 years by matching up service dogs to people living with a disability.
“We look at the current state of life that they have and what is it they want to achieve once they have the dog,” said Brandt. “Then, we start custom training our dogs to get them to the future state, what is it they want to do.”
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Brandt says they operate on donations, and after a couple years of training, hand the dog over for free to their new owner.
Trainer Blake Sowers says he started his journey at Guardian Angels through a VA apprenticeship program two years ago.
“As a veteran myself, I was in the army for 13 years, I find a real connection between the dogs and the veterans, so every single day I’m working here, I find I’m able to give back to my veteran group,” said Sowers.
The team is asking for votes in order to win the top prize: $25,000 and a 2024 Land Rover Defender, wrapped with the company’s design.
Brandt says the prize is almost the cost of a dog, which will help them continue their mission.
You can vote once a day until October 17 by clicking the link here.
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