Pets for Vets Minneapolis - ST. Paul

Dining To donate at the Applebee's on Robert street in WSP! Come on out by 9PM tonight and tell your server you are here for Pets for Vets!

Come say hi at the 49er Days Festival in Fridley!

Come on out to St.Francis pioneer days and enter to win great prizes from Pets For Vets!
Some include
Gift cards
Pets for Vets T shirts
And a 4 hour 2 person fishing trip with Mike Rodger.
We also have Surf Dawgs CD and DVD combination for 15$ (all funds go to Pets for Vets)
Hope to see you!

Pets for Vets Minneapolis ST Paul is at Pioneer Days, come say hi!

Helping Veterans Find Hope and Healing

UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans (UHC M&V) Report Developer Ken Berge and his wife Ashley always wanted to open an animal shelter and manage a nonprofit organization. Specifically, the couple wanted to combine their love for animals with a mission that would also support the veteran community. Ken and Ashley finally found the perfect fit for their philanthropic interests in the national nonprofit “Pets for Vets,” leading them to start the organization’s Minneapolis chapter in January 2016.

Created in 2009, Pets for Vets pairs animals who have been surrendered to animal shelters with veterans who need their companionship, often to help cope with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

“Both the dog and the veteran have been through traumatic events in their lives,” said Ken. “When I see how they help each other heal, the time I put into Pets for Vets is all worth it.”

Pets for Vets pairs trained companion dogs with veterans based on their personalities, needs and what the veteran wants to get out of the relationship. Unlike a service dog that helps someone perform every day functions under strict rules, a companion dog lives with the veteran as a family pet. “Our veterans can snuggle with their dog, give them a treat and let them hang out on the couch if they want,” Ken said. “The amazing thing about this organization is that we take dogs that need homes themselves and give them to veterans free of charge so that they can help each other live happy and fulfilling lives.”

The national Pets for Vets organization recently approved the first animal trainer for the Minneapolis chapter. The trainer will meet with any veteran who requests a companion dog and will select and train a dog to be placed in their home. Dogs of any breed are eligible for training; the only requirement is that they are at least two years old. Pets for Vets uses its donations to pay for the dog’s kennel, leash, collar, toys and bowls and supplies them with treats and food for the first month, making the financial commitment much easier than if the veteran were to adopt from a shelter on their own.

UHC M&V employees who are interested in becoming involved with Pets for Vets can visit the Pets for Vets website, search for a chapter in their local community and fill out a volunteer application. Pets for Vets is also a match-eligible charity on giving.uhg.com.

With an organization like Pets for Vets, shelter dogs are given a second chance at life while veterans in need get a second chance at health and happiness.

Credit: UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans M&V Insider employee newsletter.

Thank you to our servicemen and women for your service. Most of all, thank you to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and the families of those fallen soldiers, we owe our freedom to you. Have a blessed Memorial Day from Pets for Vets Minneapolis-St. Paul!

At the turf club! Come on down and say hi and listen to some really awesome music!