Nonprofit ‘Canines for Heroes’ honored for supporting veterans, first responders with PTSD

BRADENTON, Fla. – Canines for Heroes, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders in southwestern Florida with PTSD, is being honored by PuroClean of Bradenton for their work and commitment to their community.

Cofounded by Mark and Sandra LaFlamme in 2016, the Sarasota based organization provides service dogs to veterans for companionship and protection with physical and mental challenges, including PTSD.

According to their website, the trained service dogs will help veterans return to life with confidence and independence. It noted the dogs as being an option for veterans returning from deployment instead of serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.

Part of Canines for Heroes, the National PTSD Service Association provides service dogs to qualified veterans in Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee and Hillsborough County.

In particular, Sandra LaFlamme has a service dog named Cowgirl. LaFlamme acquired the dog after suffering a head injury as a child.

Loving animals, LaFlamme noted finding new ways to “gain function” and find a sense of accomplishment from riding horses. LaFlamme noted the horses helped her heal through the physical, emotional, and psychological effects of suffering from a head injury as a child.

“Though there are still hardships associated with living with this disability on a daily basis, having horses and now Cowgirl as my service dog in my life; has made it much easier for me to navigate through these challenges while experiencing joy along the way,” LaFlamme said.

According to the release, Canines for Heroes was being recognized for their “heartfelt gestures” to the Bradenton community. Moreover, the organization’s recognition is in line with National Superhero Day on April 28th.

The release noted National Superhero Day “aims to honor real-life heroes who make the world a better place,” including through extraordinary acts of acts of kindness, courage, and selflessness displayed by the likes of Mark and Sandra.

For their recognition, PuroClean selected Mark and Sandra for an Award Medal recognizing their unwavering service to retired first responders and veterans.

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