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Pets for Vets on Podcast

As a former Army Medic, DAV, American Legion member and dog lover, Sean believes the organization is the perfect way to combine two things he is very passionate about: Veterans and dogs. He looks forward to improving the quality of life for local Veterans and providing loving homes for dogs in need.

Pets for Vets on audio / video / ebook / paperback book

  • Hank Garner – Listen to a recently released book and podcast interview with several authors who are donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of "Tails of Dystopia" to Pets for Vets. As the Veterans Liaison for PfV Sean participated and come on around 18:20 and 56:50 marks. They wanted to partner with PfV because all of these stories are related to the reader from a pet, or at least an animal's, point of view. A couple of the authors are Veterans, and they are all huge animal lovers. So, PfV was a natural fit for them to want to partner with, and Sean was fortunate enough to be a spokesman for PfV on this particular interview.

  • PBS Shelter Me series hosted by Katherine HeiglShelter Me

  • Merrill Lynch - Healing Vets, Rescuing Dogs

  • “One Day on Earth” 11.11.11 Veterans Day VideoDavid & Charley

  • Pets For Vets on ARD TVTV in Germany

  • Pets for Vets: Saving Two LivesNews from our DC Chapter

  • Howling Across Bridges – A book with a forward by Pets for Vets

Interviews with Sean Quigley

OMNY - Connecting Vets: An interview with Pets for Vets Chapter Director, learn about all they do for the military community.
American Heros Network
WECT News 6: Pets for Vets pairs shelter dogs with military veterans.

See Pets for Vets on Television

Read About Pets for Vets in the News

Read About Pets for Vets in the News

  • All Warrior Network – Pets for Vets Video

  • CNN – Interview on CNN HLN

  • KTTU – TV – Las Vegas Veteran-pet match

  • The American Veteran – A public affairs program produced by the Department of Veterans Affairs

  • CBS2 News – “Pets For Vets” Helps Veterans, Animals In Need

  • Cat Fancy – Cats Comfort Veterans with PTSD

  • Merrill Lynch’s Advisor Magazine – On A Mission

  • Employees Community Fund of Boeing California – Remembering and supporting our veterans through Pets for Vets

  • Examiner.com – “Pets For Vets, what a great idea!”

  • Military Times – Newman’s Own honors charities, support groups

  • Care2 –  Shelter Pets Help Veterans Transition to Civilian Life

Optum Creates Toy Box and Provides Supplies for our Welcome Package

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We presented the Pets for Vets program to top executives of Optum during an event held at the Terranea Resort. They donated the toys and supplies that compose our Welcome Package and designed a toy box that looks like a foot locker.

The box is shown to the left with David Harlen, his dog, Charley, and Clarissa Black, founder of Pets for Vets.

In addition to this box, five more will be created. We appreciated the opportunity to share our program and be part of their effort to give back.

Founder of Pets for Vets Wins Cigna GO YOU Award

BLOOMFIELD, Conn., December 02, 2013 – The founder of Pets for Vets, a non-profit organization that matches shelter pets to armed forces veterans and trains them to be companion animals, has won the Cigna GO YOU Award.

Clarissa Black, an animal trainer, founded Pets for Vets after she visited VA Long Beach Health Care System veteran’s health facility with her dog, Bear. She saw the positive effect a dog can have on veterans suffering from PTSD and other conditions. The organization now has 19 chapters in 17 states.

The GO YOU Award comes with a $50,000 Cigna Foundation grant for Pets for Vets. Black said she will use the money to form additional chapters in other states and to match more shelter pets to veterans.

“For us at Cigna, one of the best parts of the GO YOU Awards process has been connecting with individuals who’ve turned their personal passion into effective action. To know that Clarissa will now be using her GO YOU grant to transform that passion into better lives for even more of our veterans is especially exciting,” said David Figliuzzi, executive director of the Cigna Foundation.

Facebook users chose Black as the GO YOU Award winner via an online vote held November 4 to 11. She was one of four nominees for the award, all of whom previously received $20,000 Cigna Foundation grants for their charities. Black and Pets for Vets won handily with 70 percent of the Facebook vote.

When informed of the results, Black said, “Bringing our brave veterans together with some wonderful animals is reward enough, but it’s always energizing to know that people appreciate what Pets for Vets does. I want to thank everyone who voted, and to thank the other GO YOU Award nominees. We’re all in this for the same reason: helping others!”

The GO YOU Award honors the pioneering spirit of innovative individuals who create or build nonprofit organizations that contribute to personal, family and community health. The award is an extension of Cigna’s focus on encouraging people to be true to themselves and meeting their individual needs.

About Cigna and the Cigna Foundation
The Cigna Foundation is a private foundation funded by contributions from Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) and its subsidiaries. The Cigna Foundation supports organizations sharing its commitment to enhancing the health of individuals and families, and the well-being of their communities, with a special focus on those communities where Cigna employees live and work. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com

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