Battle Buddies fundraiser brings in $10,000

EPHRATA — The American Legion Art Semro Post and Unit 28 held a fundraiser Saturday to raise money for Northwest Battle Buddies, a nonprofit that gifts professionally trained service dogs to veterans battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD.

“I think the hearts and minds of the people in the room was united and had the desire to make a difference in the lives of our veterans and add value to their lives,” said Ovie Muntean, COO/Chief Advancement Officer of Northwest Battle Buddies.

The fundraiser at the American Legion on Saturday featured a silent auction, a live auction, door prizes and a warm dinner. In total, there were more than 100 in attendance and in excess of $10,000 raised for NWBB.

NWBB is a nonprofit organization founded in 2012 and has paired 257 veterans in 28 states with service dogs to date. 

Muntean found his passion for serving veterans after American soldiers brought relief to his small Romanian town after it had a devastating flood when he was only 5 years old. 

“I remember only wearing a tank top and underwear, we lost everything else,” Muntean said.

He said his family was told there would be supplies delivered to the center of the town. Once there, a helicopter of soldiers landed with food, clothes and other humanitarian aid.

“A soldier put his hand on my shoulder and said words I didn’t understand but that was the first time I saw the American flag,” he explained.

He said he has always wished he could thank those specific soldiers in person one day and found his own way of giving back through NWBB.

Muntean said the goal of NWBB is to raise enough money to cover the cost of acquiring the dog, train and care for the animal as well as the costs associated with bringing the veteran to Battle Ground, Wash., to train with the dog for four weeks.

The costs for the dog alone, he said, are about $25,000 from beginning to end.

According to the 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, in 2020, suicide was the 13th leading cause of death among veterans and was the second leading cause of death among veterans under age 45. The average number of veteran suicides per day in 2020 was 16.8. 

NWBB has not lost a single veteran they have paired with a service dog to suicide — a 100% success rate — Muntean said.

The purpose of pairing service dogs with veterans who have PTSD is so they can regain their freedom and independence that PTSD has robbed them of as a result of their service and hopefully lower the chances of a veteran committing suicide.

DL Thomas, a veteran from Beaverton, Ore., attended the fundraiser with his service dog Atlas that he got through NWBB. Thomas and Atlas have been together for four years and said having Atlas has helped him be successful in life, post-military service.

Thomas said anyone with PTSD, not just veterans, understands the anxiety, hypervigilance and panic that comes with the disorder and makes it hard for them to lead a normal life.

“Having a PTSD service dog by your side helps keep you in the moment and allows me to take my mind off my surroundings which is leaving me uncomfortable,” Thomas said. “He’s at my side, responding to the adrenaline he’s sensing in me and he’s licking me, he’s making himself known to me. I’m paying attention to him. If I’m paying attention to him, then I can’t see what’s happening around me and that makes it easier to tolerate.”

Muntean said PTSD service dogs help veterans in a unique way. The dogs are trained to detect subtle changes in the veteran including hormonal or physical changes that indicate the veteran will be experiencing stress, panic, anxiety or other challenges before the veteran realizes these feelings are happening.

Another aspect veterans deal with is guilt and tending to put their needs below that of others, Muntean explained. 

“An interesting thing, almost every single one of them say, ‘Thank you, but there’s another guy that needs it more than I do.’” 

Thomas added that the hardest part is taking the first step for themselves.

“The first step is actually wanting help,” Thomas said. “It’s hard to admit to one’s self that there’s something wrong with me.”

He explained that it is so easy to spot in others, but to self reflect and admit that you might need help is very difficult to do.

“Once you (take the first step), as long as you’re putting forth effort, (NWBB) walk you through the entire process,” Thomas said. “We are here for you and we are on your team, on your side, we are your cheerleaders — we are whatever you need us to be — as long as you continue to put forth effort we will be there 100% behind anyone who wants to do this.”

Muntean said the goal of NWBB is to serve every veteran that comes and asks for help, they never want to turn one away because of an inability to afford a dog for them.

To start the application for a Battle Buddy, donate to the organization, or simply find out more information, visit northwestbattlebuddies.org.

Rebecca Pettingill is a freelance writer and photographer based in Ephrata.

    The fundraiser for Northwest Battle Buddies at the American Legion Art Semro Post 28 had more than 100 people turn out to raise in excess of $10,000 for the nonprofit.
  

    Nine veterans brought their Northwest Battle Buddies support animals to the Ephrata-based fundraiser over the weekend.