K9s For Warriors Asks: Can We Stop 22 Veterans From Committing Suicide Today?

NOCATEE, Fla., Jan. 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 22 veterans and active duty military personnel commit suicide in the United States every day. K9s For Warriors wants you to know, we have a solution to STOP22.

"I went to grab my pistol and before my hand even touched it, my service dog started barking non-stop, which is not like him. He was jumping in my face and wrapping his head around the arm I was going to grab the gun with. When I finally pulled away, he stopped barking and just stared at me." - A K9s For Warriors Graduate.

In launching the "STOP22" campaign on January 22, 2015, K9s For Warriors wants every American to know we have a veteran suicide epidemic and that there are solutions.

K9s For Warriors provides service dogs to post-9/11 veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or military sexual trauma (MST) at no charge to the veteran. We give rescue dogs and military heroes a new leash on life. To date we have had a 100% success rate preventing soldier suicide.

How we are asking for help? Awareness. K9s For Warriors is asking you to share our message of #K9sSTOP22. We want you to get creative and share this message in a Facebook post, a Tweet, or an Instagram post using the number 22. You can share your photos on K9s For Warriors website www.STOP22.org and help us bring awareness to this epidemic.

"Today, tomorrow, the day after that, 22 veterans will commit suicide in America. This sobering fact can't be ignored and we are asking for your help," said Shari Duval, President of K9s For Warriors.

For more information about the STOP22 Campaign, call 904-686-1956, email Todd Galley at toddgalley@k9sforwarriors.org, or visit www.STOP22.org.