ARTSPEAK RADIO with Battle Buddy Service Dogs, Vi Tran, Emma Carter, Erika Baker, Jason Pollen, and Tommy Frank

Maria talks with guests Mark & Julie Heimkes with Battle Buddy Service Dogs, writer/performer/musician Vi Tran plus Emma Carter and Erika Baker for a staged performance of 7 Deadly Women. In the second half of the program, artist Jason Pollen and Belger Craneyard Studio Manager, Tommy Frank join us live. Battle Buddy Service Dogs is a veteran operated, not for profit organization that provides U.S. Military Veterans diagnosed with service related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with Service Dogs. We pair rescued dogs with the veterans, and train them together to build a trusting bond similar to the battle buddy the veteran had while serving. Studies show that 80% of the veterans experience improvement in their symptoms when paired with a service dog. If the Battle Buddy Service Dog program can improve the quality of life for veterans and their loved ones then we have fulfilled our mission. Mark Heimkes, President The owner, Mark, is a combat veteran diagnosed with PTSD and TBI. He spent twenty-three years in the military and served in Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). He received a service dog from a program based in Arizona and has experienced first-hand…