Donations are being accepted to garner funds as part of a yearlong campaign to raise and train a service dog that would be provided free to disabled veterans.

Through Bucci Laser Vision’s “Help Us Help a Veteran” campaign, more service dogs will be able to be provided for veterans and first responders in need.

The goal is to raise $6,000 as a “puppy sponsor” through the America’s VetDogs Organization “Help Us Help a Veteran” campaign, according to Amy Jo Jabbour, director of marketing, Bucci Laser Vision, Wilkes-Barre.

Jabbour said once that’s done, they’ll continue to raise awareness and funds throughout 2018 in order to reach the $50,000 goal, which is the annual cost to raise and train a service dog.

She said that all donations will assist in the first year of a service puppy’s expenses, in addition to bringing community awareness to America’s VetDogs by getting volunteers and foster families involved.

Tax-deductible donations can be made at BucciVision.VetDogs.org.

“America’s VetDogs is so thankful for Bucci Laser Vision’s support to raise funds and awareness for our mission to provide service dogs for veterans with disabilities,” said Katherine M. Fritz, Director of Development, America’s VetDogs “Through Bucci Laser Vision’s “Help Us Help a Veteran” campaign, we will be able to provide more service dogs for veterans and first responders in need.”

The way it works is puppy sponsors have the opportunity to name a puppy that will be raised by a puppy raiser family.

A puppy sponsor receives a photo and certificate of the puppy once it’s been assigned a name.

The sponsor receives periodic updates on how the puppy is progressing in the program and will be invited to “Celebration Sunday” should the dog be scheduled to graduate from the program. This contribution is $6,000 and helps to cover a portion of the costs associated with breeding, puppy raising and veterinary care. A dog sponsor will be listed in their annual report.

They cannot offer a replacement for any puppies that are “career changed” out of the program. Medical and/or behavioral issues can prevent a dog from graduating on class.

America’s VetDogs provides service dogs for veterans of all eras and first responders at no cost.

Since 2006, more than 350 assistance dogs have been trained and placed as guide and service dogs with disabled veterans of all eras.

America’s VetDogs provides guide dogs with individuals who are blind or have low vision; hearing dogs for people who have lost their hearing later in life, service dogs for those with other physical disabilities, facility dogs that work with physical and occupational therapists as part of the rehabilitation process in military and VA hospitals, and PTSD service dogs to help mitigate the effects of PTSD in an effort to provide the emotional and physical support needed.

In 2013, America’s VetDogs became the second assistance dog organization in the country to be certified by the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International — the Guide Dog Foundation was the first.

The cost to breed, raise, train and place one assistance dog is more than $50,000.

America’s VetDogs is privately funded, and relies on contributions from individuals, corporations, service clubs and foundations.

To learn more about America’s VetDogs and its services and programs, visit www.VetDogs.org.