Apply for a service dog
If you’re a Delaware veteran, or know one, who could benefit from a fully trained service dog, contact the C.A.S.H. program directly.
- Ray Harris(302) 632-8510
- Joe Startt, Chapter 850(302) 242-8708
Canines Assisting Service Heroes
Service dogs for Delaware’s veterans.
Since 2017, Riedel K9 has trained the service dogs placed through C.A.S.H., a Vietnam Veterans of America Kent County Chapter 850 program for veterans living with PTSD and TBI.
The short answerC.A.S.H. (Canines Assisting Service Heroes) is a program of Vietnam Veterans of America Kent County Chapter 850 that places fully trained service dogs with Delaware veterans diagnosed with PTSD or traumatic brain injury. Nelson Miller of Riedel K9 trains the dogs; training averages about 18 months per dog. Donations are tax-deductible.
The program
Honor, delivered on four paws.
When the Kent County Vietnam veterans set out to put service dogs in the hands of Delaware’s veterans, they reached out to Nelson Miller. Almost immediately a black Labrador was donated. They named him Cash, and the program was born.
Each dog is donated or selected for temperament, then trained for an average of about 18 months, at roughly $10,000 per dog, before being presented to a veteran. Not every dog has what it takes to be a service dog, and that often can’t be known until months into training, which is why the program depends on community support.
Dogs are presented in public ceremonies, from American Legion posts to Veterans Day events, and the teams go on to share a life of independence, calm and companionship.
2017program began
~18 moaverage training per dog
~$10Kto train each dog
PTSD · TBIveterans served
Service dogs trained
Some of our heroes.
- Cash
- Bob
- Remington
- Ginger
- Tekoda
- Captain
- Dewey
- Chloe
- Winston
- Angel
Donate
Your tax-deductible donation helps provide training and care for the dogs veterans receive. Contact the program or Riedel K9 to give.
- Ray Harris(302) 632-8510
- Riedel K9 office(302) 378-7943
In the news
Press coverage
Cape Gazette
Canines Assisting Heroes present veteran with service dog
Vietnam Veterans of America
Kent Vietnam Veterans present service dog to a disabled veteran
WBOC TV 16
Feature story on the C.A.S.H. service dog program
OC Today-Dispatch
Community fundraising for a pup’s training
How can a Delaware veteran get a service dog?
Delaware veterans living with PTSD or TBI can apply for a fully trained service dog through C.A.S.H. (Canines Assisting Service Heroes), a donor-supported program of Vietnam Veterans of America Kent County Chapter 850. Riedel K9 trains the dogs. Contact Ray Harris at (302) 632-8510 or Joe Startt at (302) 242-8708.
Start today
Support the dogs who serve those who served.
Whether you’re a veteran, a donor, or a family looking for great training, we’d love to hear from you.