Mutt Strut event providing medical service dogs to veterans moves to online platform

For retired Army Captain John Kelly, dog is much more than man’s best friend.

His dog, an 88-pound German Shepherd named Ranger, is “a doctor with four legs and a coat of fur.”

Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs — a national nonprofit that trains and donates service dogs to veterans and first responders — matched Kelly and Ranger nearly five years ago.

During his time in the Army, Kelly deployed to Afghanistan, where he suffered from an IED explosion and watched five friends die.

“It was not an easy deployment,” he said. “Those people, you see them die right in front of you and that screws you up. Things are not going to be the same in any way, shape, or form.”

After retiring from active duty, Kelly said he struggled with PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and suicidal ideations.

But a dog from Guardian Angels changed everything. When Kelly and Ranger met, there was an instant connection.

Kelly said that within two hours of meeting Ranger, the dog proved he could help him recover. Kelly was asleep in a hotel room, having a familiar nightmare about his time in Afghanistan.

“Before the dream could gain any traction, I’m getting woken up by this dog licking me in the face. The more that dog got close to me, the more that dog kissed my face, the more that dog was there, I noticed the PTSD symptomology was reduced significantly,” Kelly said.

For Kelly, the dog was a “prescription for hope.”

“There’s nothing like the support of a dog,” he said. “There’s unquestionable loyalty. Ranger was the guy that said, ‘Oh, we’re going to fight this PTSD and we’re going to win.’”

After seeing the impact Ranger could have, Kelly advocates for Guardian Angels and the Mutt Strut — an annual event that fundraises to help other veterans match with dogs like Ranger.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the Mutt Strut is pivoting to a virtual platform this year. Participants will receive daily updates from Sept. 8 through Sept. 12 on the virtual platform.

This year’s Mutt Strut program will include video updates from veterans who received Guardian Angels’ dogs, an online auction, and a photo contest.

Registration is free — though donations are strongly encouraged — and open now.

Individuals are encouraged to donate and purchase Mutt Strut merchandise before and during the week-long Mutt Strut event.

Funds from the event will support ongoing care and training for Guardian Angels dogs. The money will also help Guardian Angels representatives with travel expenses, as they travel to veterans to pair them with dogs and offer in-person training.

On average, 22 veterans die from suicide every day. But among the veterans paired with a Guardian Angels service dog, there have been no suicides, the nonprofit said.

“Go to the Mutt Strut. Understand why this is important. Understand the people who are impacted by the scourge that is PTSD. For me, it goes back to that average of 22 veterans a day dying of suicide. We can stop it,” Kelly said, adding that he didn’t know whether he would still be alive himself if not for his Guardian Angel dog.

The service dogs can help veterans cope with mobility issues, seizure and diabetic disorders, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress, military sexual trauma, and more, Guardian Angels said.

“They are saving people’s lives,” Kelly said. “Every dog is another life saved.”

For more information or to register for the Mutt Strut, visit the Mutt Strut’s website.