One local nonprofit organization is looking to continue its momentum of providing furry companions to service members — free of charge.
Veterans’ Buddies, established and focusing on Carter County, is working toward providing animals from the Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter as a way to provide support to veterans.
The organization’s board is comprised of four members: President Chris Price, retired Commander Sgt. Major that served in the Army for 24 years, including Desert Storm; Suzanne Price, Chris’ wife and treasurer; Vice-President Duane Gilbert, commander of VFW Post 2166 in Elizabethton and Vietnam veteran; and Vice-President Dr. Kate Zimmerman, DVM, director of the Tri-County Veterinary Hospital.
Providing a support system for veterans is crucial, according to Suzanne, who added that each member of the organization understands the role animals can play as lovable companions to individuals.
“There’s such an emotional impact that happens from servicemen and women that return home,” she said. “You see cases of PTSD, other emotional situations where people are alone and just need a companion. Our goal is to provide veterans with an animal at no-cost from the animal shelter and we were able to accomplish that in our first year thanks to the Carter County Commission.”
While the goal for possible expansion is on the horizon in the future, the initial main focus is Carter County and Elizabethton — a region heavily populated with veterans.
Using data provided by the United States Census, Veterans’ Buddies was able to determine that 10.7 percent of the population in Carter County are veterans, with 11 percent of the veteran population falling below the poverty threshold.
“When you see numbers like that, you know these veterans need assistance and that’s what we want to provide,” Suzanne said.
Just a few months old, the organization has already been able to provide three dogs and one feline to veterans that make it through their application process.
“We recently had a gentleman, a retired United States Navy veteran, that received a kitten from the shelter,” Suzanne explained. “I recently talked with Maria (Talley) at the shelter and she mentioned he left a two-minute voicemail talking about the adoption. It’s a great thing to see the smiles on the veterans’ faces when they’re able to bring home an animal.”
Suzanne added that each of the recent adoptions have gone to disabled veterans, but the program is open to any veteran within the community. Individuals go through an application process to see how they can be assisted by Veterans’ Buddies.
Along with the no-cost adoptions, the organization is looking at boosting their pet pantry for low-income veterans. The treasurer stated that the pantry includes monthly home delivery of dog or cat food, flea/tick medication and heartworm preventative measures.
The pet pantry is open to any low-income veteran that was honorably discharged and earns less than $16,040 with a household of one person, or less than $21,599 with two people in the household, according to the organization’s website.
Suzanne also thanked program participants, Big John’s Closeout and Tri-County Veterinary Hospital for their assistance with the initiative.
The organization will also be at the animal shelter June 16 and 17 for the facility’s “Cool Cats and Dog Days of Summer” free adoption event. Suzanne added that individuals can get in touch with the group there to be part of the group or begin the process of adoption.
For more information, or to make a contribution, visit vetsbuds.com, the Veterans’ Buddies Facebook page online or call (423) 218-2159.