Soldiers assigned to the Warrior Transition Unit have teamed up with some four-legged friends to help make the lives of disabled individuals a little easier.

In partnership with the paws4vets program, Winn Army Community Hospital’s Warrior Transition Battalion is the chosen pilot site for the Army’s Service Dog Training Program. Wounded warriors are learning to train service dogs for placement with disabled soldiers or children with special needs.

The paws4vets program has two primary goals. First, the program can provide wounded warriors an opportunity to experience the unique, therapeutic powers of the K-9/human bond. This enables soldiers to recover from or cope with post traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries.

Second, the program successfully trains, certifies and places assistance dogs with veterans, active-duty members or their dependents with physical, neurological, psychiatric or emotional disabilities.

For more information, go to www.paws4vets.org.