Local News Audio 9-22-20 Noon
Local News Audio. WIZS – Your Community Voice.
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- Hungry Heroes BBQ in Henderson to Feed HPD; HFD Today
- Veterans Dog Walk
- VGCC Emiliano Dunton
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Town Talk 09/21/20: Veterans Dog Walk Raises Mental Health Awareness
100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
Mark Ferri, veteran and Vance County Animal Shelter volunteer, appeared on WIZS’ Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.
Ferri announced that a “Paws, Tails and Boots” Veterans Dog Walk will be held at the Vance County Animal Shelter, 1243 Brodie Rd. in Henderson, on Saturday, September 26, 2020, from 9 to 11 a.m.
Founded by Ferri in 2016, the program raises awareness of the mental health issues faced by veterans and first responders.
“When you have somebody who is stressed out and nervous with a lot of anxiety, sometimes that can be subdued by other means,” said Ferri. “One of them is interacting with an animal who is also stressed out or depressed, and somehow it works out where you both heal each other.”
The public is welcome, with veterans, first responders and their families strongly encouraged to attend. Participants will walk and interact with selected shelter dogs in an effort to provide companionship and trust-building activities.
Service animals are welcome; however, participants are asked to leave other pets at home.
Ferri said he enjoys the camaraderie of these events. “It has been a pleasure to work with these animals and talk to veterans and first responders. These men and women are out there doing a great job, working and doing their day-to-day thing. If they can get a little helping hand from time to time, it’s a good thing.”
For more information on the Vance County Animal Shelter and its services, please visit www.vancecountyanimalshelter.com.
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
(Photos courtesy Mark Ferri)
Town Talk 11/11/19: Upcoming Veterans Dog Walk ‘Therapeutic’ for Dogs, Participants
THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
Mark Ferri, veteran and Vance County Animal Shelter volunteer, was on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the shelter’s upcoming Veterans Dog Walk event.
The event – Paws, Tails and Boots – will be held at the shelter, located at 1243 Brodie Rd. in Henderson, on Saturday, November 16, 2019, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The public is welcome, with veterans, first responders and their families strongly encouraged to attend.
During the event, shelter volunteers and staff will be on-hand to answer questions and encourage participants who are eligible to commit to adopting an animal.
Founded by Ferri in 2016, the dog walk serves the twofold purpose of matching animals with loving owners and raising awareness of mental health issues.
According to Ferri, traumatic experiences are something that the shelter dogs and many veterans and first responders have in common and interactions between the two can be healing.
“It’s very therapeutic,” Ferri said. “A lot of people that have participated in the dog walk in the past have told me they feel like it’s a real help to them; the dogs love it too. You can come out and enjoy yourself without any kind of judgment from anyone or fear of being ridiculed or embarrassed.”
Fortunately, according to Ferri, society is becoming more aware and responsive to PTSD and other mental health issues. “Society isn’t very kind to the mentally ill; however, a lot of people are trying to turn that tide to get away from the stigma.”
To hear the interview with Ferri in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
‘Paws, Tails & Boots’ Veterans Dog Walk to Return to Vance Co. Animal Shelter
-Information and flyer courtesy Mark Ferri
The fall Veterans Dog Walk “Paws, Tails and Boots” will be held at the Vance County Animal Shelter, 1243 Brodie Rd., Henderson, on Saturday, October 13, 2018, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The public is welcome, with veterans and first responders strongly encouraged to attend. Participants will be walking and interacting with selected shelter dogs in an effort to provide companionship and trust-building activities.
The event was founded by veteran and Vance County Animal Shelter volunteer Mark Ferri. Ferri began the program in 2016 as a way to raise awareness of the mental health issues faced by veterans.
For more information on the Vance County Animal Shelter and their services, please visit their website at https://www.vancecounty.org/departments/animal%20control/.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
Veterans Dog Walk at Vance Co. Animal Shelter
The Vance County Animal Shelter, located at 1243 Brodie Rd in Henderson, will host a Veterans Dog Walk on Saturday, May 12, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The public is welcome, with veterans and first responders strongly encouraged to attend. Participants will be walking and interacting with selected shelter dogs in an effort to provide companionship and trust-building activities.
The event, titled Paws, Tails and Boots, was founded by veteran and Vance County Animal Shelter volunteer Mark Ferri. Ferri began the program in 2016 as a way to raise awareness of the mental health issues faced by veterans.
According to Ferri, the event has grown with the support of both the Vance County Animal Shelter and Chief Frankie Nobles. “Frankie and his staff are like family to me,” Ferri said. “I couldn’t do it without them.”
Ferri believes that the veterans and dogs interact so well because “both of us have had traumatic experiences, both of us need help and both of us need each other.”
By working together, Ferri believes that the interaction is beneficial and healing to both human and dog. “When you take a dog for a walk, the veteran engages with the public, gets out of their shell and builds trust,” said Ferri. “The animal also enjoys the walk and builds trust in humans as well.”
While there, Ferri and other participants will be encouraging others who are eligible to commit to adopting a shelter animal, be it dog or cat.
According to Ferri, the only thing you need to do to participate in the event is to “bring some good walking shoes and a good attitude.”
For more information on the Vance County Animal Shelter and their services, please visit their website at https://www.vancecounty.org/departments/animal%20control/.