New Partnership Empowers Veterans with Mission Based Trauma Recovery

Utilizing the WCC’s innovative Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training model, this new initiative will benefit not only Veterans but also the Duquesne University and the broader Pittsburgh community.

The WCC’s MBTR model is centered on the time-honored military tradition of “Warriors helping Warriors.” In this program, Veterans learn to train service dogs for their fellow Warriors, while fostering their own skills in communication, confidence building, emotional regulation and patience.

The program’s focus on peer support and personal growth makes it a natural fit for Duquesne as a University with deep roots in military tradition and service, a profound history of supporting Veterans and an ROTC program dating back to 1917. 

Duquesne has always sought to level the playing field and has a long tradition of listening, learning and investing the time that authentic collaboration like this one demands.

“It’s an honor to host the Warrior Canine Connection service dogs in training on campus, especially in support of Duquesne alum Erick Foster and Team Foster,” said Chris Boissonnault, director of Duquesne’s Office of Military and Veteran Students. “Veterans are a special part of the Duquesne community and history; we look forward to having these amazing pups and their trainers on campus for their important work.”

A WCC service dog training instructor, along with four service dogs in training, are already working with Veterans in the program in Pittsburgh, which has been made possible thanks to a generous $100,000 gift from Team Foster. The Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization was founded in honor of U.S. Army Captain Erick Foster, a Pittsburgh native and Duquesne graduate who was killed in Iraq in 2007. Team Foster’s involvement underscores the deeply personal nature of this initiative, aligning with its mission to support Veterans by helping to place them with highly trained, accredited service dogs.

"Thanks to the unwavering support of Chris Boissonnault, Veterans now have the powerful opportunity to heal and support one another by learning to train service dogs for their fellow Warriors,” added Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “This hands-on experience not only aids in the recovery of our Veterans but also deepens Duquesne University's long-standing commitment to its military history by directly serving its Veteran students and the surrounding community. We're also profoundly grateful to Team Foster for their continued dedication, which allows us to extend our reach and support even more Veterans in need.”

The WCC program at Duquesne is actively seeking Puppy Raisers—dedicated volunteers who help raise and train the service dogs during the first two years of their lives. Veterans interested in learning more about the program or how to get involved are encouraged to visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.

Duquesne University

Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and horizon-expanding education. A campus of nearly 8,200 graduate and undergraduate students, Duquesne prepares students by having them work alongside faculty to discover and reach their goals. The University's academic programs, community service and commitment to equity and opportunity in the Pittsburgh region have earned national acclaim.

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