LP_110118

lockportlegend.com news
the Lockport Legend | November 1, 2018 | 7
Local event pairs veterans with service dogs
Submitted by K9s for
Veterans
K9s for Veterans held their
You Will Never Walk Alone
event at John Olson American
Legion Lockport Post
18 on Oct. 13 where they
presented five veterans with
their service dogs.
K9s for Veterans also surprised
CEO and Founder,
Michael Tellerino with his
new service dog at the ceremony.
Michael lost his service
dog from cancer.
Tellerino said K9s for Veterans
has been in existence
for a little over three years
with more than 40 dogs that
have gone through the program.
They provide the dog
for free to the veteran as well
as covering all of the food
and medical costs for the life
of the dog. To make a donation,
visit k9sd.org.
The first dog presented
was Minkus, an American
bulldog and pit bull, to his
owner Doug Blackstone.
Blackstone served in the
Army as a cook where he
was able to exercise self
control over his anger issues.
Blackstone found Minkus
while he was volunteering
at an animal control center.
Blackstone called Tellerino
up saying he had the perfect
candidate for a service
dog. Due to complications
of where he was living at the
time, Minkus was given to
another veteran. Minkus did
not like this change. K9s for
Veterans reached back out to
Blackstone saying Minkus
was back in the program and
Blackstone immediately relocated
so he would be able
to have Minkus as his service
dog.
Then there was Cheryl
Lockard and Ari, a boxer.
Lockard served in the Air
Force as well as at Ground
Zero. She has bad PTSD
from her experiences while
serving. Ari is Lockard’s second
service dog. If it wasn’t
for Ari, Lockard would
Five veterans were presented with service dogs Oct. 13 during
K9s for Veterans’ You Will Never Walk Alone event at John
Olson American Legion Post 18 in Lockport. Photo submitted
still be staying at home and
avoiding people. Ari has given
her a new life that allows
Cheryl to go places.
Muhammad Shakur was
part of the Military Police,
and he suffered a traumatic
brain injury. Now, Shakur
suffers from PTSD, cold
sweats, anger issues and a
strong hate towards bullies.
One day, Shakur had a panic
attack while he was outside.
Coincidently, K9s for Veterans’
van was driving by.
He immediately called the
number on the van to receive
help. This is where he
met his service dog Snow, a
labradoodle. Whenever Muhammad
has his nightmares
during the night, Snow is
always there to nibble at his
fingers to tell him everything
is all right.
Derek Valerio served in the
Army where he pulled fuel
trucks down the highways of
Iraq. He lost a total of four
vehicles while in combat. After
his service, Valerio would
avoid family and friends as
well as large crowds. Valerio
was on Facebook one day
where he came across a story
about the K9s for Veterans’
Forgotten Warrior Memorial.
He immediately reached out
to Tellerino. Derek met his
service dog Ella, a German
Shepherd when he reached
out to a breeder in Tennessee.
Valerio says Ella can tell
when he has his anxiety attacks.
Ella immediately helps
break through his anxiety.
Shay Westhoff served
in the Army for 15 years.
Westhoff became distant
from his family because of
the decisions he had to make
in Afghanistan. A woman
from Virginia donated a
13-week-old English Mastiff
named Shatter to Westhoff.
Since Shatter, he has been
happier. He has been able to
get out and interact with everybody.
Vikki Meyers presented a
service dog and attended the
service dog dedication on
behalf of the Lady’s Auxiliary
where they gave a donation
of $500 to K9s for
Veterans. Meyers is a Lockport
native and is the wife
of Mike Meyers who is the
Commander at the American
Legion Lockport Post.
Joe Budka, an attendee
of the event, is a neighbor
of Mike Meyers, the Commander
of the American
Legion Lockport Post. Joe
served in the Navy where he
was an Aviations Structure
Mechanic and never saw
combat. Budka said he went
to a K9s for Veterans event
last year and it made him
want to come back and support
this group. The biggest
thing that stuck out to him
at the event was how these
veterans were impacted by
these dogs through mutual
unconditional love.
scout
From Page 5
they form strong bonds with
their fellow Scouts,” Adam
said.
Anthony Ackerman, 10,
said he enjoys just about everything
about Pack 64, and
he encourages other young
On November 6 th
Re-Elect Democratic
people to consider joining in
on the good times.
“We do camping. We do
fishing,” Ackerman said.
“And we learn how to do a
lot of fun things.”
Up next, Cub Scout Pack
64 will be helping out the
Feed My Starving Children
organization. The group also
frequently joins forces with
CONGRESSMAN
COMMONSENSE LEADERSHIP
★Boosting American Jobs
★Standing Up for Women
★Fixing Local
Transportation
★Protecting the
Environment
★Keeping Our
Communities Safe
★Honoring Veterans
and Seniors
★Making Healthcare
More Affordable
Endorsed by:
Main Street Lockport to do
good locally.
Allen explained, “We’ve
worked with them and
participated in things like
mulching, weeding, picking
up garbage and planting
flowers.”
For more information on
Cub Scout Pack 64, visit
www.cubpack64.com.
Why Just Change Oil When You Can...
•FAMILY DISCOUNT
Multiple Cars - 2nd Car Oil Change...... $3.00 OFF
•Tues. - LADIES DAY
Oil Change............................................... $3.00 OFF
•Wed. - SENIOR DAY
Oil Change............................................... $3.00 OFF
•NEW CAR CHECK-UPS
•Lube, Oil & Filter • Automatic Transmission Service •
ter, Breather & PVC Valve •
Judy and Dan
Lipinski
“Dan Lipinski has a strong record of going
to bat for working people.”
danlipinskiforcongress
New and Improved!
We Remodeled!
COUPON
OIL CHANGE
We’ll Check and Top O ...
˛ Transmission Fluid
˛ Power Steering Fluid
˛ Radiator Fluid
DLipinski03
Not valid with any other
. Expires 12/06/18
$
22 99
1038 E. Ninth Street (Rt. 7) • Lockport, IL • 815-838-4948
Between Pagoda House and Anthony’s Pancake House
Paid for and Authorized by Dan Lipinski for Congress