Carolina Canines for Veterans Provides Service Member with First Service Dog from NAVCONBRIG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) November 17, 2010 -- NAVAL CONSOLIDATED BRIG CHARLESTON, S.C. – November 18, 2010 Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston, in partnership with Carolina Canines for Service, will place its first prisoner-trained service dog with a wounded veteran.

NAVCONBRIG Charleston houses prisoners from all branches of the military sentenced up to five years; longer sentences on a case-by-case basis. The brig provides extensive prisoner programs, including rehabilitative treatment; substance abuse treatment; counseling, education and training (academic, vocational, military, physical); productive work; and religious.

NAVCONBRIG Charleston work programs support military and federal agencies to provide productive, cost-effective work, which also is used as a skill-training process. Work programs include carpentry/furniture making/repair, auto maintenance/repair, metal works and welding, sign making, upholstery, service dog canine training, and culinary arts.

CAROLINA CANINES FOR SERVICE is a nonprofit health and human services organization that provides people with disabilities quality trained service dogs. In 2008, CCFS launched a national program, Carolina Canines for Veterans, to train rescue dogs from local shelters to assist wounded service members. The program began at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Brig, North Carolina. Having successfully conducted the program for more than two years, the program transitioned to NAVCONBRIG Charleston, South Carolina in September. Operating entirely on private donations, CCFS trains prisoners to raise and train each service dog that is placed with a service member at no cost to the service member.

On Thursday at 10 a.m., NAVCONBRIG Charleston will be hosting a ceremony to place their first prisoner-trained service dog with a service member suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Marine Sgt. Brian Jarrell.

Jarrell enlisted in the Marine Corps in December 2001. While deployed to Haiti and Fallujah, Iraq, Jarrell served as an ambulance driver and supported operational needs for humanitarian work. In September 2005, Jarrell returned to the states and started showing signs of PTSD, major depressive disorder, anger, insomnia and anxiety. In September 2006, Jarrell deployed to Al Asad, Iraq, where he was a vehicle recovery operator. In 2008, Jarrell became a Marine Corps recruiter. While on recruiting duty, Jarrell’s symptoms became increasingly worse and he started getting help at the local Veterans Administration Medical Center in Syracuse, New York. After three months, he was sent to the Wounded Warrior Detachment at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. There he received treatment for his symptoms and in April he was sent to the Wounded Warrior Battalion-East aboard MCB Camp Lejeune for continued therapy. Jarrell’s personal decorations include a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, three Iraqi Campaign Medals, four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, National Defense Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Citation, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Citation, two Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals and three Certificates of Commendations.

"We continue to serve our service members through the Carolina Canines for Veterans program at the Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston and have extended our training techniques to address issues specific to those individuals with post traumatic stress disorder in addition to serving those with mobility issues," says Rick Hairston, Carolina Canines for Service President & CEO.

Service Dog Jada was rescued by Adopt-An-Angel, a rescue based in Wilmington, North Carolina.

CAROLINA CANINES FOR VETERANS, a program of Carolina Canines for Service, has provided eleven (11) service members with service dogs valued at a total of $440,000. The program is solely funded by the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations to Carolina Canines for Service. Carolina Canines for Service is a non-profit corporation dedicated to empowering people with disabilities to achieve greater independence. Since its inception in 1996, Carolina Canines has placed 41 service dogs, valued at more than $1.65 million. For more information, call (866) 910-3647 or visit www.carolinacanines.org

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