Group donates assistance dog to military bomb techs
A Texas organization that raises assistance dogs hopes to donate an 18-month-old male goldendoodle to a military bomb technician in need of help.
MADE in Texas Assistance Dogs raises the canines to help people with special needs, including people in wheelchairs and those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The Grand Prairie, Texas-based organization has partnered with the Panhandle-based EOD Warrior Foundation to provide a veteran military bomb technician with a highly trained dog named KC.
Hailey Jumper Mauldin, director of the Texas organization, said more than $25,000 has been invested in KC's training and care.
MADE in Texas is accepting applications from explosive-ordnance disposal technicians who might be a good fit with the dog and will select someone to provide a permanent home for KC in October, Mauldin said.
KC is named in honor of Navy Cmdr. Kevin Childre, an explosive-ordnance disposal technician who died in a cycling accident in 2015. In 2009, Childre helped start the EOD Undefeated Bike Ride. The annual ride benefits the EOD Warrior Foundation. Childre was also a lover of the breed and often posted photos with his goldendoodle, Tucker.
Mauldin said she learned about Childre through online communities of people who are fans of the lovable golden retriever/poodle mix dogs. She reached out to Mauldin's family, who supported the idea of naming a goldendoodle assistance dog for Childre and donating the dog to an explosive-ordnance disposal veteran.
"Kevin's loss was felt throughout the goldendoodle community, and I wanted to find a way to give back and honor his memory," Mauldin said.
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Goldendoodles are ideal assistance dogs because they have the high intelligence of poodles, the gentle nature of golden retrievers and are nonshedding and hypoallergenic, she said.
During his intensive training, KC learned to use light switches, open doors and retrieve a variety of objects on command, she said.
He is also being trained to wake someone up when they are having a nightmare.
And he can help someone with hyper-vigilance issues by providing a buffer to ensure their personal spaces are not invaded, she said.
"He knows how to block someone by standing in front or standing behind to make sure they never feel sneaked up on," Mauldin said.
KC is about 50 pounds, a little smaller than the average goldendoodle, she said.
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Mauldin said that about 80 percent of the dogs her organization trains make it through the training. Some are rejected because of medical issues, others are too easily distracted by birds, squirrels or other things while in public places, and others become too nervous or uncomfortable in crowded areas, she said.
KC has done well in training and is ready to meet his potential owner, she said.
Nicole Motsek, director of the EOD Warrior Foundation, said her organization will work with MADE in Texas to find the partner for KC.
"We are thrilled to honor Kevin, who meant so much to the country and did so much for our foundation. Kevin was a true dog lover and I feel this is a great way to honor his memory," she said.
All military bomb technicians are trained at the Navy's Explosive Ordnance Disposal School at Eglin Air Force Base. According to the EOD Warrior Foundation, 131 explosive-ordnance disposal technicians have died during combat operations since Sept. 11, 2001, and 250 have lost limbs, sight, had major burns, paralysis or other injuries.
"The number of invisible injuries are unknown at this point and the suicide rate numbers are quickly approaching the numbers lost in combat," the organization said in its news release about the goldendoodle project.
Interested in KC?
Explosive-ordnance disposal technicians interested in applying to receive KC, should go to www.madeintexasassistancedogs.org.
For more information about the EOD Warrior Foundation, visit www.eodwarriorfoundation.org.