Healing Vets, Saving Shelter Pets OUR STORY
March 2024
Military Animal Project (MAP) was developed and launched out of the former organization, Pets For Vets Ventura County, CA Chapter (PFV VCC) that was established in 2014 by Chapter Directors - Mardu and Ron Lydick. After 4 years of working with our local veterans, Mardu Lydick, Co-Founder/President, Bob Horrell, Co-Founder/Executive Director a
nd Ron Lydick, Director of Business realized that there was a much greater need for Emotional Support (ESD) and Physical/Psychiatric Service Dogs. On May 7, 2018, MAP officially launched. MAP has created a unique opportunity to positively impact the lives of many of our Nation’s Warriors through the use of animal support services. Whenever possible, MAP adopts their dogs from local animal rescues/shelters and professionally trains them for the Veteran’s specific needs. This is our way of saying, “Thank You For Your Service. With MAP’s Certified/Insured Therapy Dog Program we visit veteran’s, including but not limited to – nursing homes, assisted living, rehabilitation, therapy sessions, hospitals, hospice facilities, Vet Centers and also in the privacy of their homes.
In addition to professionally trained dogs, we also offer our Equine Buddies Program (EBP). Linda Horrell, Executive Director EBP, manages the program and day to day needs. Born from the early sponsorship of Steven DePalma’s and Greg Eliel’s , EBP is an intensive on-site confidence building program where the horse helps expose the Veteran’s internal conflicts. The leadership is based on achieving mutual trust and respect between horse and Veteran, enabling the Veteran to gain insight into potential resolutions to these conflicts. During our Equine Buddies Program, Certified Therapy Dogs are also on sight to assist the Veterans. All of our programs are provided AT NO COST TO THE VETERAN.
Over the past 3 years, MAP has gone through a number of changes both pre and post COVID. One very important change was the acquisition of a 22 acre MAP Dog Training & Equine Facility in Reno, NV. This property provides a permanent home for our animal support services and facilities for both local and remote veterans participating in our programs. All of this was made possible through the extremely generous donation from William L. “Bill” (WWII Navy Veteran) and Marguerite “Maggie” Mors from Ventura County, CA. As of 2023, MAP is back to full programs both in California and Nevada. In addition, we are developing 3 other animal support areas for our veterans:
• Veteran Pet Support Services - Emergency veterinary care/Grooming needs.
• Dog (cat) Boarding Services - for veterans needing immediate placement of their pets when they are hospitalized, in recovery and inpatient drug/alcohol treatment. Boarding can be 45-60 days sometimes longer.
• Stand Down Pet Support – Stand Down is an annual event providing much needed resources, services and products to our homeless veterans. MAP attends this event every year and provides pet food/product, veterinary and other animal support services as needed for our homeless veterans and their pets. With our dedicated volunteer team, strong community support…MAP is changing the lives of Veterans,
one shelter dog & horse at a time. Healing Vets, Saving Shelter Pets.
