Several members of the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club spent time today at Bell Top Elementary School as part of a celebration of efforts supporting the “Rebuilding Warriors” canine support project.

A check for $3,050 was prepared for the support of the companion animal effort for veterans in need: $1,500 came from  SRC’s recent “Bowling for Vets” event, with the remaining $1,550 coming from a combination of student fundraising and a faculty Go Fund Me effort.

Rebuilding Warriors is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization providing highly trained and socialized service/companion dogs to veterans diagnosed as amputees as well as those with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and TBI (traumatic brain injury). Most of its dogs are bred especially for this mission and have a highly sought-after demeanor. Dogs are provided to honorably discharged veterans from any branch of the U.S. armed forces or from any service era meeting its eligibility standards. (Click here to go to the Rebuilding Warriors website.)

SRC also is involved in a second, separate canine project in partnership with Bell Top. It includs helping underwrite the purchase and years-long socializing and training of a support dog for the school. It was reported that a puppy will be selected from a litter of eight born on June 9 for purposes of this effort.