Top Dogg K9 Foundation
THE MISSION
Every day in America, 22 attempt to take their own lives. Though only 8% of the population, veterans make up 14% of deaths due to the suicide. According to a recent study, veterans are around twice as likely to commit suicide, when compared to the civilian public. At Top Dogg K9 Foundation, our mission is to reduce the number of military families impacted by suicide.
To fulfill our mission, we provide service dogs at no cost to veterans and their families. These dogs are highly-trained assistance animals capable of improving quality of life for veterans, through such tasks as waking their owner from night terrors, calming/redirecting the owner, providing a buffer area between owner and a crowd, and more. In addition to the above training, Specialty Service Dogs assist their owners with mobility issues, including finding/retrieving lost or far away items, rising in the morning, and turning lights on and off.
We are proud to not only provide canine companion and service aids to our deserving veterans, but to also offer greater linkage to care and social services for their families and serve as a safe-haven and conduit for emotional wellness for those utilizing our services. We also educate the community at-large on the challenges our warriors face, including physical, mental health, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Military Sexual Trauma, depression and other common diagnosis soldiers face after deployment.
THE STORY
Top Dogg K9 Foundation was founded by Blake and Sheila Rashad in 2011. Blake “Top Dogg” Rashad is a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army as a K-9 Dog Trainer. He has been training dogs since the age of 12. The inspiration for launching Top Dogg K9 Foundation came after meeting Vonell Brown, Alumni Manager of the Wounded Warriors Project. Brown is a retired military combat soldier that served in two wars during his 20-year career in the U.S. Army. The plethora of emotional scars to his psyche still exists today, giving him direct knowledge of the challenges our veterans face. Blake knew he could use his expertise in dog training and his military background to make a tremendous impact on the future health and wellbeing of veterans through Top Dogg K9.
Top Dogg K9 Foundation (TDK9) meets critical needs of disabled veterans in Georgia. We are the emerging leading support center for veterans as we work within our community to reduce the number of military families impacted by suicide due to mental illness each year. TDK9 stands on the principle that Veterans Deserve Outstanding Generosity and Service (VDOGS). We support this principle by rescuing, training and pairing suitable dogs with disabled veterans and those struggling with mental health challenges post-deployment for a happier, healthier and more balanced life. TDK9 provides dog training, referrals for support/social services, canine therapy workshops as well as social support and networking opportunities for veterans with veterans. We provide these life-changing services to veterans at no cost to them.
