Lockport News

Posted by Paul McAfee 
 

SERVICE DOGS GET PLAY AREA

In early April, a local non-profit veterans’ organization, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA) Chapter (19-6) helped to create an opportunity for veterans with PTSD to keep their service dogs, and to bring them to their therapy sessions at the Batavia VA PTSD Clinic.  The VA had recently allowed service dogs to accompany veterans with PTSD to therapy sessions, but in some cases, the dogs could not come into the building, or needed room to run and relax.  CVMA member Mr. Frank Grillo worked with the Director of the VA Medical Center in Batavia, Mr. Brian Stiller, to obtain permission to build a dog run on the Batavia VA PTSD Clinic grounds for veterans’ service dogs.
 
Mr. Grillo reached out to members of CVMA Chapter 19-6, and to other local supporters of veterans, to collect funds to build the dog run. Within a week, Mr. Grillo collected $1,400, which was enough to build a large dog run, and to add a shelter for the dogs and veterans inside the dog run.
 
Paul McAfee, a member of the Rotary Club of Lockport, as well as being a member of CVMA Chapter 19-6, requested funding support for the dog run from the Rotary Club of Lockport. The timing was short, as the CVMA Chapter wanted to build the dog run while the permission to build it was fresh. Nancy Kasprzak-Whitmore, the Chair of the Giving Committee for the Rotary Club of Lockport, accepted Paul’s request and moved it quickly through the committee’s approval process.  The Rotary Club of Lockport donated $500 toward the construction of the dog run.
 
The CVMA Chapter 19-6 members met at the Batavia VA PTSD Clinic on Saturday, April 16, to build the dog run.  The shelter within the dog run will include a Rotary logo honoring the Rotary Club of Lockport’s contribution.
 
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