Operation Dog Tag is an emerging Spokane area outreach to military combat veterans. ODT’s mission is to provide help, hope and healing to mentally and emotionally wounded combat vets. Many veterans are struggling and need help to find purpose in their life. Our good friend Joseph Scheffer is the founder of ODT and a professional dog trainer. As a Vietnam combat veteran, Joe has personally experienced pain and hopelessness. He personally knows how unconditional love and receiving a meaningful purpose for life brings lasting healing and hope for the future. Operation Dog Tag brings wounded vets into a training relationship with a specially selected dog. The experience of giving and receiving unconditional love as trainer and dog work together begins the work of healing and hope. ODT provides the vet and his or her dog ongoing support, encouragement and guidance throughout this process. The second component toward healing and wellness gives the vet the opportunity to mentor a fellow struggling vet  through receiving and training his or her own dog. Wounded veterans helping fellow veterans---a natural, powerful and sustainable strategy for helping struggling and hopeless veterans toward wellness and a hopeful future. Operation Dog Tag offers wounded veterans unconditional love, support and a purpose. We urge you to help and encourage veterans to learn about this path to help, healing and a future.         

-John & Joanne Hansen
Retired Spokane School Teachers