Merrick Pet Care Partners with K9s For Warriors

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K9s For Warriors and Merrick Pet Care are joining together to give a new leash on life to American military veterans and shelter dogs. Merrick’s support will aid K9s For Warriors’ mission of pairing specially trained rescue dogs with veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disability (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI), helping them readjust to civilian life.

“More than half a million war veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disability and struggle to see that there is life after combat,” said Shari Duval, president of K9s For Warriors. “K9s For Warriors offers these Warriors a home to heal and the support of a service dog so they can go back out into the world again and feel safe.”

Merrick, K9s For Warriors exclusive dog food partner, will provide each service dog with all their meals and training treats as they train for their service of empowering their warriors to return to civilian life with dignity and independence. The dogs will enjoy healthy recipes made in Merrick’s kitchens which start with USDA-inspected deboned meat and fresh produce and contain superior levels of high-quality protein. Merrick handcrafts its recipes in its Hereford, Texas kitchen.

In addition to feeding the service dogs, Merrick will donate $50,000 to the organization later this year. A limited-edition special can recipe of Merrick dog food will be released this fall, honoring American military veterans as well.

“K9s For Warriors takes shelter dogs and turns them in to heroes,” said Greg Shearson, CEO of Merrick Pet Care. “These dogs know what their Warriors need without having to be told and if we can play a role in helping them do their job by providing them with superior nutrition and quality care, then we should be proud. At Merrick, we think these service dogs are the best dogs ever. And the best dogs ever deserve the best food ever.”

K9s For Warriors helps veterans with PTSD and/or TBI have a new outlook on life. The non-profit group carefully selects dogs for their program from animal shelters across the country and professionally trains them at their facility. The dogs are then matched with Warriors with whom they live, learn and bond together for three weeks with up to 16 other warrior-dog teams.

Each warrior-dog team is a true team, which means that not only do dogs care for their warriors, but Warriors must provide proper care for their dogs, including high-quality food.

“By giving these dogs quality food, we know they can best serve our Warriors and lead them on the road to recovery,” added Duval.

In addition to feeding these best service dogs ever, Merrick will donate $50,000 to the organization later this year. A limited-edition special can recipe of Merrick dog food will be released this fall, honoring American military veterans as well.