Organizations Filed Purposes:
SOLDIERS BEST FRIEND PROVIDES SERVICE/THERAPEUTIC COMPANION DOG TRAINING FOR VETERANS LIVING WITH COMBAT-RELATED POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) OR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI). OUR PROGRAM IS ARIZONA-BASED, PROVIDING LIFE-CHANGING SERVICES FOR ELIGIBLE VETERANS AND ARIZONA HOMELESS DOGS.
SOLDIER'S BEST FRIEND PROVIDES U.S. MILITARY VETERANS LIVING WITH COMBAT-RELATED POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) OR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI) WITH SERVICE OR THERAPEUTIC COMPANION DOGS, MOST OF WHICH ARE RESCUED FROM LOCAL SHELTERS.
IN 2019, PROGRAM SERVICES WERE CONCENTRATED ON OUR SERVICE/THERAPEUTIC COMPANION DOG TRAINING PROGRAM. WE SERVED 123 VETERANS DURING 2019. HISTORICALLY, OVER HALF OF THE DOGS IN OUR PROGRAM ARE ADOPTED FROM AZ SHELTER/RESCUE PARTNERS. PROVIDED AT NO COST TO ELIGIBLE VETERANS, EACH VETERAN/DOG TEAM TRAINS AN AVERAGE OF 6-9 MONTHS. PROVIDING THIS LIFE-CHANGING SERVICE INCLUDES: COMPREHENSIVE APPLICATION PROCESS, DOG ADOPTIONS, FOSTERING, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING & TESTING, VETERINARY CARE, PROVIDING EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES & SUPPORT TO HELP ENSURE PROGRAM COMPLETION.New in late 2019, Soldiers Best Friend developed and launched additional support through a Mentor Program. This program offers graduates the opportunity to be paired with in-training veterans to provide encouragement and guidance, facilitating the successful completion of the rigorous training. Additionally, we piloted a second level of instruction, Operation Graduate Training, which helps alumni teams retain and develop new skills, reinforce the bond between veteran and service dog, and build confidence. Looking forward, Soldiers Best Friend will strengthen these complementary programs in order to ensure the ongoing success of our program participants and graduates.OUR PROGRAM SERVES AS A PARALLEL SUPPORT PLAN TO EACH VETERANS MEDICAL TREATMENT & AIMS TO LESSEN THEIR SYMPTOMS OF PTSD OR TBI. A Biennial SURVEY OF ALL GRADUATES WAS CONDUCTED IN 2018 TO GATHER DATA ABOUT THE PROGRAMS EFFECTIVENESS. RESULTS (39.5% RESPONSE RATE) ATTEST TO ITS SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF GRADUATES & THEIR FAMILIES. RESULTS INCLUDE: 97% REPORTED THEIR SERVICE/THERAPEUTIC COMPANION DOG IMPROVED THEIR OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE, 72% AN OVERALL REDUCTION IN THEIR NEED FOR MEDICATIONS, 80% A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILY & OTHERS. OF RESPONDENTS WHO EXPERIENCED SUICIDAL THOUGHTS PRIOR TO BEGINNING TRAINING, 91% REPORTED A REDUCTION IN SUICIDAL THOUGHTS.
Executives Listed on Filing
Total Salary includes financial earnings, benefits, and all related organization earnings listed on tax filing
| Name | Title | Hours Per Week | Total Salary |
|---|
| Brenda R Meir | Executive Dir. | 40 | $79,615 |
| Steven Dow Dvm | Board Member | 2 | $0 |
| Elizabeth Beth Schryer | Board member | 2 | $0 |
| Kelly Finnell | Board Member | 2 | $0 |
| Susan Crane Pmhnp | Board Member | 2 | $0 |
| Robert E Cooper | Board member | 2 | $0 |
| John Burnham Dvm | Treas./Founder | 5 | $0 |
| Victoria Bellomo | Board Member | 2 | $0 |
| Jill J Nelson | President | 15 | $0 |
Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (
public 990 form dataset) from:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/202042459349301624_public.xml