Launched with $2,500 Grant from the Cape Cod Foundation, New Program Helps Vets and their Families Readjust to Civilian Life
BOSTON and Centerville, Mass. May 16, 2016 – Many Cape Cod veterans and their families face challenges when military service ends and reintegration begins. Injuries, strained personal relationships, economic and job concerns—all weigh heavily on the minds of veterans, just as they step off the battlefield.
The MSPCA-Cape Cod, in partnership with the Nicholas G. Xiarhos Memorial Fund, aims to ease this transition by way of a new program called “Wags for Tags,” which will pair veterans with adoptable animals from the organization’s Centerville adoption center.
The new program is made possible by a $2,500 grant from the Cape Cod Foundation’s TGC Fund, a donor-advised fund that provides financial assistance to Cape-area veterans and active military families. The fund aims to establish a Cape Cod community in which veterans, active service members and military families are supported.
Kickoff at Yarmouth Police Department
The “Wags for Tags” event takes place Sunday, May 22 at the Yarmouth Police Department in Yarmouth, Mass. The MSPCA will bring upwards of 10 animals—all adoptable pets living at the adoption center—to interact with veterans and their families.
All veterans—enlisted or retired—and their families are invited to attend. The event runs from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and MSPCA team members will be on-site to assist with animal introductions and provide overviews on the organization’s animal care and the humane education programs.
“Spending time with animals is as calming as it is healing and our goal is simply to offer opportunities for veterans and their families to experience the simple joy of spending time with pets,” said MSPCA-Cape Cod director Mary Sarah Fairweather. “If veterans choose to adopt—all the better, but if it’s therapeutic to simply be around animals, than that is a win for all involved, too.”
The up-close-and-personal time veterans will have with the animals is not only comforting for weary warriors but provides excellent socialization for animals. “This is a win-win for animals and the community,” said Fairweather. “Our way of giving back to those who sacrifice so much for our freedom is to ensure these heroes get to spend time with our heroes: the incredible animals who share space with us in our adoption center.”
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The MSPCA-Angell is a national and international leader in animal protection and veterinary medicine and provides direct hands-on care for thousands of animals each year. Founded in 1868, it is the second-oldest humane society in the United States. Services include animal protection and adoption, advocacy, humane education, law enforcement, and world-class veterinary care. The MSPCA-Angell is a private, non-profit organization. It does not receive any government funding nor is it funded or operated by any national humane organization. The MSPCA-Angell relies solely on the support and contributions from individuals who care about animals. Please visit www.mspca.org and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mspcaangell
