Thanks to the efforts of many Borderland residents, Labrador retriever pups “Kooch” and “Voyageur” will some day assist active or military disabled veterans.
The community raised funds in 2011 to sponsor the two puppies through America’s VetDogs Veterans K-9 Corps.
Sponsoring the dogs was the dream of Hugh Kirkpatrick, who last year was provided a service dog, “Toby,” through the program. Kirkpatrick was so moved by how the dog has impacted his life that he wanted to share the experience with other veterans.
Kirkpatrick teamed with Kathy Sikkila, Koochiching County Veterans Service Officer, and Terry Randolph, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2948, to raise funds needed to sponsor the dogs.
Letters to the community from Sheila O’Brien, director of external affairs with VetDogs, explained that Kooch, a Labrador and golden retriever cross, and Voyageur, a Labrador, are now with their inmate puppy raisers at the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center of Bridgewater, Mass.
At Bridgewater, they will learn their names, how to come on command and behave well on a leash.
When the dogs are 16 weeks old, they will work on weekends with another puppy raiser.
