In The News


Veteran News:

DID YOU KNOW? VA Benefits Rise 1.7 Percent

President Obama has signed legislation providing a 1.7 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) for 3.9 million recipients of VA disability benefits, dependency and indemnity compensation and pensions. 

The COLA bill, which had been stalled in the Senate since late September, was freed up on Nov. 13 and unanimously approved in time for the increase to be included in the checks received in January. Additional delay could have stalled payments until February or later. 

SOURCE: DAV, 11/27/2012

Stem Cells Could Aid in Healing Traumatic Brain Injury

By Maureen Mack – Veterans Today, November 26, 2012

The primary investigator of the study is Aleksandra Glavaski-Joksimovic, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurosurgery; co-primary investigator is Milan Joksimovic, Ph.D., assistant professor of cell biology, neurobiology and anatomy at MCW.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a considerable health problem with no effective therapy. There is increasing evidence that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) have potential to migrate toward the site of trauma and stimulate recovery of the damaged brain tissue after TBI. Researchers in this study aim to learn more the mechanisms contributing to that migration and restoration.

This is one of 19 pilot projects being funded in 2012 through CTSI. The goal is to create synergy through collaboration, and studies are specifically designed to lead to major future research support. The projects explore findings that have the potential to be translated into clinical practice and community health, and are led by investigators at the CTSI’s eight partnering institutions: the Medical College of Wisconsin, Marquette University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, UW-Milwaukee, Froedtert Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, the VA Medical Center, and the BloodCenter of Wisconsin.

CTSI is part of a national consortium of top medical research institutions. Working together, the CTSI institutions are committed to improve human health by streamlining science, transforming training environments and improving the conduct, quality and dissemination of clinical and translational research. The CTSI program is led by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health.

Support for the Pilot Award Program comes from the National Institutes of Health, the John and Jeanne Byrnes CTSI Award, and both MCW’s Advancing a Healthier Wiscon


Pet News:

Five Foods You Should Feed Your Dog – NATURALLY!

  Do you feed your dog raw food?  Kibble?  Cooked or dehydrated food?  A mixture of more than one?  Regardless of what you feed, it’s always a good idea to take a step back every now and again and decide whether your dog could use a little nutrition boost.  Sound nutrition is the first step in providing a healthier lifestyle for your dog, so let food by thy medicine!  Here are five healthy food items you might want to add to your dog’s diet.

  • Green Tripe

  Green tripe is truly a superfood that no dog should be without! Tripe is loaded with naturally occurring digestive enzymes and probiotics. Think how much money you can spend on supplements when those same wonderful, natural substances are in abundance in green tripe. Tripe is also loaded with B vitamins and has the perfect ratio of calcium to phosphorus – 1:1. It also contains the essential fatty acids Linoleic and Linolenic, in their recommended proportions. If you can’t find green tripe from your raw supplier, there are canned products available. Tripe stinks but you won’t regret feeding it: no guts, no glory!

  • Milk Thistle

  Although milk thistle is technically a herb not a food, it’s an important part of any dog’s diet. The active ingredient of milk thistle seed extract as a flavonoid compound called silymarin. This little powerhouse has been shown to be safe and effective in treating a variety of liver diseases and other conditions. It specifically protects the liver against toxins and stimulates the growth of new liver cells to replace those that are dead or damaged. Milk thistle is a great herb to have on hand and should be given any time your dog is exposed to any toxins including drugs, vaccines, dewormers, lawn chemicals and the like. Milk thistle also has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. It can be purchased in powder, capsule, and liquid extract form.

  • Raw Eggs

  Next to green tripe, raw eggs are another one of nature’s most wholesome foods for dogs. Eggs are not only economical, but they are one of the most complete and nutritious foods available. Eggs are a nearly complete source of amino acids (the building blocks of proteints), and contain lots of vitamin A, riboflavin, folate, vitamin B12, iron, selenium and fatty acids. Feed the egg with the shell on, and the phosphorus and calcium are perfectly balanced, making the egg a nearly complete source of nutrition for your dog. Whenever possible, try to find eggs from pasture raised chickens raised without hormones or antibiotics.

  • Coconut Oil

  This superfood is comprised mainly of medium chain triglycerices which in turn are loaded with lauric acid, followed by capric acid, caprylic acid, myristic acid and palmitic. Most of the coconut oil benefits come from the MCTs. For example, the lauric acid in coconut oil has antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties. Capric and caprylic acid have similar properties and are best known for their anti-fungal effects. In addition, MCTs are efficiently metabolized to provide an immediate source of fuel and energy, enhancing athletic performance and aiding weight loss. In dogs, the MCTs in coconut oil balance the thyroid, helping overweight dogs lose weight and helping sedentary dogs feel energetic. According to Dr. Bruce Fife, certified nutritionist and naturopathic doctor, coconut oil gently elevates the metabolism, provides a higher level of energy and vitality, protects you from illness, and speeds healing. As a bonus, coconut oil improves any dog’s skin and coat, improves digestion, and reduces allergic reactions. Look for organic sources whenever possible.

  • Organ Meats

  Organ meats are important for both raw feeders and those who feed kibble. The raw or home prepared diet would be incomplete without the powerful nutritional punch of organ meat and, due to consumer demand for higher quality protein sources, most high end kibbles avoid the use of byproducts and this includes organ meats. Compared to regular cuts of muscle meat, organ meats are more densely packed with just about every nutrient including heavy doses of B vitamins such as: B1, B2, B6, folic acid and vitamin B12. Organ meats are also loaded with minerals like phosphorus, iron, copper, magnesium and iodine, and provide the important fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. It’s important to note that animals raised outside on grass contain even higher levels of these essential nutrients than their grain fed counterparts. Raw is best but you can also fry up some liver or kidney for your dog as a treat.

It doesn’t take a lot of effort or money to add these superfoods to your dog’s diet. Try them on your dog and watch him reap the rewards!

(SOURCE: Dogs Naturally Magazine, November 2012)

VCA Animal Hospitals & Hills Science Diet Food Drive Benefiting Wags 4 Tags 

hills-sciencedietlogo                                                                                                 vca animal_hospitallogo

The VCA Animal Hospitals and Hills Science Diet is holding a Food Drive for Wags 4 Tags!!

Please, stop by any of these locations, buy your pet’s food and Hills Science Diet will match the purchase!

North Carolina

VCA Apex Animal Hospital
Apex, NC
Hospital Website

VCA Cornerstone Animal Hospital
Cary, NC
Hospital Website

VCA Stoney Creek Animal Hospital
Charlotte, NC
Hospital Website

VCA Broad Street Animal Hospital
Fuquay-Varina, NC
Hospital Website

VCA Triangle Tower Animal Hospital
Raleigh, NC
Hospital Website

VCA Durant Road Animal Hospital
Raleigh, NC
Hospital Website

VCA Wrightsville Beach Animal Hospital
Wilmington, NC
Hospital Website

Our Goal is to raise 1,000 pounds of Food so we can Send our Trained Dogs to their New Veteran Homes with Good, Healthy Nutrition.

Will You Help?

 

Community News:

Thanks to our Volunteers:

Wags 4 Tags embraces the generous North Carolina Community in it’s efforts to serve our State’s Military Veterans and rescue dogs from it’s kill shelters. We are humbled by the number and caliber of Organizations that have reached out to us….

  • Congratulations to Duke University’s newly chartered Sigma Pi Fraternity. 
    •  Thank You for Adopting Wags 4 Tags as your Community Service Project! We look forward to your Spring Fundraiser!

  • Thank You Green Hope High School Seniors

    • Bradley Korabik for Your I/T Talent & Skills!
    • Kristen Chung for Your Valuable Help with our Graphics, Promotional and Marketing Efforts!
  • Carolina Creative Artists and Freydoun Naeymi-RadJen Varela & FamilyRichard Dobbs
  • Paint Your Pot
  • Wine & Design
  • On The Square (Tarboro)
  • And so many more…..

Thank You All!

  Additionally, Wags 4 Tags is honored to announce their partnership with The North Carolina Chapter of The Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Through this partnership we hope to reach the 380,000 members across the state of North Carolina, open a new source for volunteers, foster homes and trainers, and help spread awareness of the many benefits membership in the NC-VFW offers our Servicemen and Women suffering from the psychiatric injuries of war. We have also partnered with several animal shelters and rescue groups across the State from which we rescue our dogs.

 

 

Founder of Love Your Veterans, Melanie Davis

The Triumph Book Author, is unveiling her new book, Heroes Triumph.

  Heroes Triumph highlights many amazing veterans who share their solutions and wisdom for survival such as Chuck Foreman, a Cold War and Desert Storm veteran who uses his skills in Special Operations to rescue missing children, or Juliet Madsen who suffers from a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and PTSD. She turned to quilting as an outlet while enduring years of physical and occupational therapy. Juliet’s quilts reflect military themes and are so exceptional; one of them hangs in the White House. Adolphus Stuart is a Vietnam veteran whose unit saw combat three weeks of every month. With 100% PTSD, Adolphus found healing by becoming a skillful chef. These and many other inspirational veterans are featured while Melanie Davis captures stories for the second book in the Heroes Series. Heroes Triumph teaches veterans how to discover and live their own Triumph while demonstrating to our nation’s citizens how to become engaged in the stories of our REAL HEROES!

Click here to learn more and see the movie trailer: http://loveyourveterans.org/media-2/heroes-triumph-a-documentary-film/movie-trailers/trailer-1-heroes-triumph/

Wags 4 Tags Thanks Melanie for her endless efforts and looks forward to carrying her books on our website soon!

 



SOME OF OUR UPCOMING EVENTS:

October 6th - Great Grapes, Charlotte, NC (http://www.uncorkthefun.com/charlotte-north-carolina/site-info)
 
October 5, 6, 7 - Veterans of Foreign Wars Fall Conference
 
November 3 - Palozza! at Lafayette Village, Raleigh 
 
November 11 - Santa Paws at Orvis, Raleigh

Check back later for new updates.  There is so much more to come!

  

 CLICK HERE FOR ARCHIVED NEWS