by Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

A rescue from Pet Tender Angels in Landrum found his forever home as a K9 for Warriors last month.

Chapman, a boxer mastiff mix, graduated the K9s for Warriors program in Florida on Nov. 19 and was placed with a veteran named Charles.

Pet Tender Angels’ director Lori Jewell said Chapman was a stray out of Greenville, S.C. found when he was four-five months old. Jewell said she immediately recognized Chapman’s strength and knew he would grow to be a large dog, which is part of the criteria to be in the K9s for Warriors program.

Once Chapman turned 10 months old, Jewell said she contacted the Animal Service Project in Polk County. They took Chapman on an outing for the day in public places and he passed with flying colors, Jewell said. Chapman was then taken to a dog trainer, where he passed quickly as well and the Animal Service Project then transported Chapman to Florida to qualify in the K9 for Warriors project.

Jewell said Chapman passed the camp and signed with his warrior within three weeks.

Chapman and his warrior will stay at the camp together to train for three weeks before going home.

K9s for Warriors is a program dedicated to providing service canines to warriors suffering from post-traumatic stress disability, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma as a result of military service post 9/11. K9s for Warriors’ goal is to empower them to return to civilian life with dignity and independence.

Pet Tender Angels, a 501 (c)(3) non profit, is located on Jamison Mill Rd., Landrum and provides rescue and rehabilitation for homeless animals, focusing on feral, stray, abandoned and special needs dogs. Pet Tender Angels was founded on the philosophy that all living creatures deserve a chance to have a good life. Through no fault of their own these dogs face impossible circumstances and Pet Tender Angels is committed to giving them a second chance.

“PTA’s mission is to provide a place where dogs in need can find sanctuary, shelter and rehabilitation with the ultimate goal of being adopted by a loving family,” states Pet Tender Angels’ mission. “The dogs that have been through our program have surpassed all expectations. They believe in us and we believe in them, resulting in many happy endings.”

For more information about K9s for Warriors, visit K9sforWarriors.org. For more information about Pet Tender Angels, visit pettenderangels.com.