Jake Meyers, 16, of Plainview, placed second in the men’s 16-19 division at the second annual Long Island Run & Dog Walk, benefitting America’s VetDogs. An award ceremony for the race was held on Sunday, July 30, at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration, where County Executive Ed Mangano was joined by Wells B. Jones, CEO of America’s VetDogs, in presenting medals to all of the winners.
“I am proud to have teamed up with America’s VetDogs and corporate sponsors like Suez to help establish this event at Old Bethpage Village Restoration and the Museum of American Armor,” said Mangano. “It takes thousands of dollars to breed, raise, train and place one assistance dog, but America’s VetDogs provides their services completely free of charge to the Veteran. I congratulate Jake Meyers for placing at the walk.”
America’s VetDogs is a not-for-profit organization that serves the needs of disabled veterans. VetDogs provides guide dogs, free of charge, for individuals who are blind or have low vision; hearing dogs for those who have lost their hearing later in life; service dogs for those with other physical disabilities; facility dogs as part of the rehabilitation process in military and VA hospitals; and PTSD service dogs to help mitigate the effects of PTSD in an effort to provide the emotional and physical support needed. In 2015, VetDogs expanded its programs to include first responders as well.
—Herald Staff
