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Today's Family Magazine

Lake Humane Society expands Pets to Vets Program

Sep 29, 2021 10:23AM ● By Today's Family

Veteran Chris Harley and his dog.

Lake Humane Society has expanded the Cpl Joshua Harmon Pets to Vets program by partnering with Veteran Canine Connection, a local nonprofit organization that connects veterans with companion dogs.  Dog trainers, who use positive reinforcement methods, will help choose a shelter dog from Lake Humane Society that is a good fit for the veterans they are working with.  The dog will be adopted to the veteran and then go through a five-week training program.  Not only is the training program beneficial to the veteran, the likelihood of a dog being returned to Lake Humane Society for behavioral reasons will be extremely low.  

Veteran Canine Connection will pay the adoption fee, supply one year of flea, tick and heartworm medications, provide veterinary care for the first year of the adoption and conduct the training at no cost to the veteran.  

Cpl Joshua Harmon was a combat medic for the U.S. Army and is a Bronze Star recipient.  

When returning from a mission in Iraq on August 22, 2007, Joshua, along with 13 fellow soldiers, lost their lives when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Multaka, outside of Kirkuk. 

Joshua was a class of 2005 Mentor High School graduate and a devoted husband to the love of his life Kristin (Rathjen) Harmon.  The Pets to Vets program was named after Joshua because of his lifelong love of animals. 

Visit www.lakehumane.org or call (440) 951-6122 for more information.