Recently we here at Tractor Brewing Wells Park, had a Season Premiere viewing party for A&E’s new series: Dogs of War, that features the teamed up work of Animal Humane New Mexico, and Paws and Stripes. Dogs of War is a show that shows service dogs being matched with war veterans, via the two organizations previously mentioned. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house that night; it was an amazing show and experience for everyone in the tap room – so amazing, we asked Sam of Animal Humane to say a few things about the show, the partnership, and the work being done –  Sam’s thoughts and sentiments are below –

*Stay tuned – Season Finale Viewing Party to happen December 7th* 

When A&E and Paws & Stripes approached us about filming their new reality program, Dogs of War, at Animal Humane New Mexico, we were thrilled, to say the least! We have been working with Paws & Stripes for a while and have developed a friendship and relationship with their team that is absolutely beneficial to the lives of veterans and dogs within our community.

Seeing the Paws & Stripes team and the A&E production crew so frequently was a treat; I learned a lot from Jim, Lindsey and Stephanie, and was able to apply those lessons to other aspects of my day-to-day job. I know they’ve helped me develop professionally and gain knowledge about another side of the business that I wasn’t often involved in… working with service animals. What personality type makes a good service dog? The behavioral patterns we are looking for. The amount of impulse control and focus we need. I’ve been able to expand my knowledge and help Paws & Stripes identify potential candidates.

Watching the selected dogs fly through the program was, in a way, like watching a child grow up. These dogs often come to our agency in rough shape behaviorally and to be a part of their evolution is inspiring.

You don’t always know what happens to dogs after you place them. You know the home is nice, but you don’t ever truly know all the details. With Dogs of War unfolding on national television, I feel like a proud father who sent his children off to go help the word in bigger and better ways. The bond between the veteran and the dog is an amazing thing to watch. There’s an unspoken agreement between the two that unfolds in front of you and it is very powerful and moving. Even dogs that weren’t selected by Paws & Stripes veterans were often adopted by other military veterans who just came in the front door. In one case, a wheelchair-bound veteran had unexpectedly lost his previous service dog. He was matched with an incredible dog, now named Nutmeg, who immediately responded positively to the electric wheelchair, which can sometimes be frightening for pets. We’ve talked with her adopter recently, and he can’t say enough about how much her companionship means to him

One thing that caught me off guard during the filming process was how true the production company stayed to the events. I was always told that reality TV is scripted, but that was not the case here. We were never asked to reenact an event or to say something again. If the camera missed it, it missed it. What you see is what happened, and watching how true these events are displayed is a sign of the honesty and respect that Paws and Stripes, A&E and Animal Humane have for the veterans and the dogs they are selecting.

This year to date we’ve placed 13 dogs with Paws & Stripes and will continue to provide dogs to them until there are no more veterans in need. Dogs of War has inspired my team – something that is essential for a job that carries such weight. Sometimes, individuals in our profession develop something called ‘compassion fatigue.’ After weeks and months of witnessing many painful and sometimes heart wrenching situations, we can feel that creating change is impossible. However, compassion fatigue is often cured by watching emotional events develop that start with your generous hand, and our involvement in Dogs of War has given that gift to me and my team at Animal Humane.

It’s a good reminder for all shelter workers out there to keep up the fight. Even the smallest of things goes such a long way in the eyes of a dog in need. We are proud to work with Paws & Stripes and we are proud to be able to provide another great service to our community.