Artist rendition shows the new veterans' center at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek. The center will serve as a training space for ARF's Pets and Vets program, which matches veterans with rescue dogs, which the vets then train as their service dogs.
Site plan for Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek, showing the new veterans' center, additional dog runs and other improvements and additions.
Veteran Kai Barnwell, left, watches his dog Bubba being examined by Dr. Josie Noah, right, and assistants Kendall Swanson, center, and Mallory Brady, top, at ARF's mobile clinic. Vets receive free health care for their pets through ARF's Pets and Vets program.
Veteran Don Perry, left, holds his dog Rowdy's leash while talking to Dr. Josie Noah, right,. Noah runs ARF's mobile clinic, which provides free health care to the pets of veterans.
Katie, a 3-year old pit bull-Labrador mix, is photographed at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek. Katie is owned by U.S. Marine veteran David Fuller and is part of the Pets and Vets program at ARF.
Katie, a three-year old pit bull-Labrador mix, is photographed at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. Katie is owned by U.S. Marine veteran David Fuller and is part of the Pets and Vets program at ARF.
Layla, right, and Thor, both pit bull mixes, hang out with their owners at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek. Both were rescued and placed in the Pets and Vets program and are now companions of veterans.
Pit Bull mix Thor poses for a photo at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek. Thor is part of the Pets and Vets program at ARF.
Pit bull mix Thor gives his owner, Johnny Delashaw, a high five.
Veterans Johnny Delashaw and his dog Thor, and Rudy DuBord and his dog Layla, right, pose for a photo.
Lady, a 5-year-old basenji mix, is photographed with her service dog vest at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek.
Veteran Madeline Gibson and Lady, a 5-year-old basenji mix.
Veteran Samuel Phillips pets Mackenzie, a 3-year-old pit bull terrier mix.
Mackenzie, a 3-year-old pit bull terrier mix, is being trained as a service dog.
Veteran Madeline Gibson and Lady, a 5-year-old basenji mix, spend time together at the Heather Farm dog park in Walnut Creek. Gibson and Lady have completed service dog training through the Pets and Vets program at the Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation.
Danny Kimbrell, Pets and Vets trainer, puts Laramie, a pit bull mix, through some tests during the evaluation process at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek. Laramie is being evaluated for a possible entry into the Pets and Vets service dog program.
A friendly dog is brought in to play with Laramie, a pit bull mix, right, during her evaluation for possible entry into the Pets and Vets service dog program at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation.
Dogs are tested for temperament before being admitted into the Pets and Vets program.
Michael Spain, of Stockton, rewards his dog Harvey with a kiss during a training session at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation. Spain, who served in the Navy, is participating in the Pet and Vets program.
Layla rests on the floor after a busy day of training with her owner, Rudy DuBord, of Oakdale. DuBord is participating in the Pets and Vets program, which pairs veterans with emotional support animals to help them cope with PTSD, anxiety, depression and other issues when they return to civilian life.
Nicky Raulston, of Pittsburg, walks with her dog, Riley, during a training session.
Layla takes a break after some rigorous training.
Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation is breaking ground on a new veteran’s center and increasing dog holding facilities that will allow more vets to be paired with a rescued service dog.
The facility, to be built at ARF’s headquarters at 2890 Mitchell Dr., Walnut Creek, will serve as the first shelter-based national headquarters for a pets and vets training center, and will allow shelters from around the country to take advantage of ARF’s expertise to create their own programs.
The $18.7 million, 23,800-square-foot expansion includes almost 14,000 square feet for the new “Pets and Vets Center,” as well as a special clinic entry for veterans, and a kennel that will add 30 dog runs to ARF’s existing building and is expected to save 500 more dogs each year.
La Russa launched the Pets and Vets program seven years ago as a way to give back to veterans who have served our country. In the past few years, the program has expanded to include the pairing of vets with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with rescue dogs that the vets then train to be their service dogs.
It is a unique program that provides both the dogs and the training to vets at no cost to them.
Since the program launched, vets have shared training space with other activities going on at ARF, which is not ideal, ARF executive director Elena Bicker. The vets often struggle in crowds and in areas that they can’t control, such as rooms with several exits and people coming and going. The new center will provide a private, secure space for participants in the program.
It also will provide important training spaces for the dogs, including an all-weather training field and simulated home and office settings, allowing the dogs to learn behaviors required service support animals.
Corporate donations and a pledge from the Engelstad Family Foundation has raised some of the necessary funds but the majority of gifts are from individuals. ARF is asking the community to put them over the finish line by raising the final $1 million. For every dollar donated now, the Engelstad Family Foundation will match it with $2.
ARF’s Pets and Vets program identifies rescued dogs with the suitable temperament and intelligence to be trained as service animals. The dogs are put through a series of tests, before they’re assigned to a vet and training begins. For vets who suffer with PTSD, a crippling and isolating condition that can make them afraid to leave their homes or interact with others, training the dog gives the vets a purpose and a reason to re-enter the world.
In addition to the new veterans’ center and dog runs, ARF will add solar panels to reduce its carbon footprint and save on energy costs. The plan also creates an endowment fund for building maintenance.
It’s been a long road for ARF, which opened in 1991 in a borrowed storefront in Concord’s Willows shopping center. The group moved several times more before raising enough money in 2003 to purchase land on Mitchell Road in Walnut Creek and build a 31,873-square foot shelter designed to hold 112 cats and 36 dogs.
The group’s central mission of rescuing pets and finding them homes has not changed, but ARF has taken on new roles and programs, and rescued more and more animals, outgrowing its building.
To donate, go to www.arflife.org/campaign. ARF also is looking for people to foster pets during the construction, which is expected to take 18 months. Find more information on fostering, as well as in-person and online training schedules, at arflife.org/foster.
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