One life at a time

One goal in mindOne mission to serve

rescuing one to rescue another

Annual Report 2012

Qualitative studies show that veterans living with PTSD and TBI have improvement in symptoms at a rate of 80%. Lowered medication reliance and fuller life activity has

been documented as an outcome of treatment with a psychiatric service dog.

resucing one to rescue another

the challengean underserved population

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER13.8% of Operation Enduring Freedom

and Operation Iraqi

Freedomveterans live with PTSD.

150,000 to 300,000 service

members have some

level of TBI.

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURYa solution

Veterans are facing PTSD and TBI at record rates.

Our veterans have reported decreased symptoms, being able to decrease reliance on medications, increased

family activity and much more.

Since 2010, Stiggy’s Dogs has deployed 20+

psychiatric service dogs

jennifer Petre

2012

Qualitative studies show that veterans living with PTSD and TBI have improvement in symptoms at a rate of 80%. Lowered medication reliance and fuller life activity has

been documented as an outcome of treatment with a psychiatric service dog.

resucing one to rescue another

the challengean underserved population

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER13.8% of Operation Enduring Freedom

and Operation Iraqi

Freedomveterans live with PTSD.

150,000 to 300,000 service

members have some

level of TBI.

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURYa solution

Veterans are facing PTSD and TBI at record rates.

Our veterans have reported decreased symptoms, being able to decrease reliance on medications, increased

family activity and much more.

Since 2010, Stiggy’s Dogs has deployed 20+

psychiatric service dogs

from our directorIt is my pleasure to share with you the successes of 2012. If I could sum it up in three descriptions, it would be setting a new Foundation, strong enough to hold the creative Building Blocks, to forge along on New Beginnings. This report is the story of your donations working to continue the mission of “Rescuing One to Rescue Another”

FOUNDATION. This past year was all about developing Stiggy’s Sanctuary, a place where our veterans come to train with their special dog in a controlled environment. This growth would not have happened if it was not for Home Depot and your votes. Winning the Aprons in Action contest made it possible to do the renovations needed, but it was the commitment and support from our community that made it all come together. Other businesses also helped like Comcast, Buffalo Wild Wings, WHMI and more. We also stayed visible in the community by our presence at events like the Howell Memorial Day Parade, the Dog Bowl, speaking engagements at the Frankenmuth Rotary Club and local Veterans Courts. We also became an approved nonprofit in the Southeast Michigan Combined Federal Campaign fund. We have countless of you to thank for this success from Terran Frye and his numerous media appearances for Stiggy’s Dogs, Jacob Krebs, a young man who choose us for his Eagle Scout project, Dr. Amberg who is researching PTSD/TBI and how service dogs help. We’ve also forged new and stronger partnerships with other community groups such as the Michigan Humane Society, Livingston Animal Control, Detroit Bully Corps, P.O.E.T., and private individuals like Karen from Pet Suite Retreat in Troy. A new partnership with Judge MacKenzie and the creation of the nation’s first Veteran Court Dog Support Program ended the year on a high note.

BUILDING BLOCKS. We would be nothing without our veterans and dogs. While this was a rebuilding year, we continued to pair four fully trained teams this year: Pedro and Bentley, who are living/working together in New York, Terrance and Major whose story is the epitome of our motto, Mike and Barrett, who have a new lease on life in mid-Michigan and John and Corpsman, the first paired Veterans Court dog team. We are proud of these accomplishments paired with frustration of wanting to do more. The result of great demand for our services and expertise has resulted in one downside: a long waiting list and frustrated veterans who deserve better. We continue to adapt to this need with supporters like you we and are happy to announce our new programs: Train Your Own Dog and Companion Dog. Through these programs we hope to reach a greater number of veterans with shorter waiting times.

NEW BEGINNINGS. Stiggy’s goal in 2013 is to pair twenty eight teams through our new programs. With the possibility of a $250,000 grant through the Aprons in Action program in May 2013 on the horizon, this year could very well be the year that Stiggy’s Dogs’ ability to meet our demand becomes a reality. Our veterans, their families and our dogs are always first and foremost in everything we do. Stiggy’s Dogs is honored to be able to walk along side them in their journey. This is all because of YOU, for supporting of our cause of ‘Rescuing One to Rescue Another.”

Jennifer Petre

oUR hOMEBASEstiggy’s sanctuary

Stiggy’s Dogs is more than just a nonprofit that provides specially trained psychiatric service dogs for veterans with PTSD and TBI. It is a family…a family that now has a true home. Each veteran that works with the program comes to our facility and trains with our staff and their service dog in training. Our veterans live, eat meals and work side-by-side with Stiggy’s Dogs staff and volunteers on a daily basis. Our goal is not only to provide a psychiatric service dog, but to provide a welcome environment for training and a safe and secure place to explore alternative therapies for PTSD symptom management.

Stiggy’s Sanctuary sits on seven acres of land with two ponds and walking trails through wooded land. In the past year, utilizing grant funds through The Home Depot Foundation, the Sanctuary has grown in leaps and bounds. A large garden was added to help make Stiggy’s Dogs more self-sustainable. Benches and picnic tables were added around the property to create a comforting environment. Changes were made to the main building to provide training space and living space for our veterans in training.

The coming year proves to be just as big for the Sanctuary with help from people like you at events like Comcast Cares, Ponds for Patriots and other events. We are always looking for help with upkeep of the property and welcome ideas to make the Sanctuary a true retreat for our veterans in training and their families.

Stiggy’s Sanctuary is that place.

Our Work

Of course I have my family to thank, but I cannot express enough how Patton has enhanced somany parts of my daily life. One of the major things he has helped with is relieving stress and anxiety when it comes to my security. He often walks the perimeter of my property with me. Even if we are just relaxing at home I can watch his body language and know if something is different. Many of my old safety habits have become his responsibility and a great weight has been lifted. Because of that I have found myself sleeping better and that in itself has been a huge feat.(From veteran Eric)

Eric and Patton

mike and barrett

testimonials

I was leery at first thinking, what can a dog do for him? My husband was injured August 19, 2003 while deployed to Iraq with the United States Marine Corps. What has Barrett done for Mike you ask? Being paired together since July, Mike and Barrett have an unbreakable bond. In just a week’s time training I noticed something had changed when he came home. Something I hadn’t seen in a long time, he was smiling again and enjoying our family time! In just 4 months time Barrett has been able to do something that in 9 years I have not, he has been able to take some of the pain away. (From Mollie, Mike’s wife)

financialsIncome

expenses

our donors

Cathy AdrianAnn AlbertsonJeffrey AlexanderGeorgia AllisonRebecca ArmstrongKate AveryRichard BassoSuzanne Beck DeClerkJeff BeckDavid and Joanne BellmardNatalie BlackThomas BlaineLisa BoruckiKim BriffaGretchen BrownJulie BrownJessica BudoffToni BurkeMarti CarrollCentury 21 Elite RealtyMarilyn ClarkZolita CourterRachel CullenReates CurryDale DavisKevin DeitzDiana J RascanoHolly DoerrMary DraughnSally EdwardsJennifer EiseleGary EmbertWilliam FerentzDawn FieldsFlatley Management Co., LLCBradley FrisonNatalie FrisonMindy GaitherJessica GearhartElaine GodlewskiTimothy GordonGreg Grandprey

Sarah HardyJennifer HegganDonald HenningerJames HerringSherry HigginsLinda HostWilliam HostInnovative AnalyticsRochelle ItohNicholas JanTeresa JayeMarissa JohnsonRobin JonesJoseph StoneLinda JoynerTom KallinJanet KelleySusan LaceyMelissa LancasterBrenda LeapJaclyn LevineJennifer LinehanRachel LongBarbra LosiLotika GulvadiCarol LoweryErnestine LucasAndrew LuszczLisa LyonsAngela MacLarenBonita MaherNoreen ManningJenny MaplesLoretta MaragniDeborah McClintockMichele McCuePaula McGranahanKimberly and Garrett McManawayPat MeeksMichael ReillyFrances MorawskiSIVC MPB Tigers

Laura MurphyJulia MusicNametapeKelsey NapierTytti NewtonPamela Okker-RiceJeremiah PedroMichele PershingJennifer PetersElizabeth and Jim PetreJohn PetreNancy PetreMaxine PhillipsCindy Pierre-MortonBradly PorterGraceann Powers-WalrshHolley PridmoreDiana RascanoTami RecherMichael ReillyMaria ReisnerDeeDee RenoHolly and Bob RichardsonPhilp RitchieVilma RosarioChristen SchillingMichele SchrafTom SerresCraig ShermanMathew SicaJill StarczewskiRobert StokerErik TaylorJim TaylorShannon TaylorElizabeth TroutMegan TuckerUsquepaugh Baking Co LLCDavid Van Allen Sr

Laurie VanBeelenAngel VogelAngie WackerWill Webb-PurkisJonathan WerbowskyLisa WhiteMaria WhiteDorothy WhittmanLori WilliamsNorma Wilson

Are we missing

your name?We have been transfering our records to a new system and might have missed some people in the process. Help us recognize your role in our success!Email us at info@stiggysdogs.org with your up to date contact information.

historyMISSION

goalrescuing one to rescue another