Clear Path Creates Program for Vets and Service Dogs

CHITTENANGO, N.Y. -- Clear Path for Veterans just completed a two-year project that will help pair Veterans with service dogs.

The "Home for the Brave" was officially opened on Wednesday morning with a ribbon cutting. The home allows dogs to decompress from the shelter environment and be evaluated before being matched with their Veteran.

Traditional service dog training typically costs between $50 and $100,000, while Clear Path's Dogs-2-Vets program does it at a fraction of the price. 

"Training the veteran to train their own service dog, it's actually helping them to better themselves. Not only are they being able to gain the tools and the knowledge of how to train a dog, but overall, they're just bettering themselves,” said Michael Raith, Clear Path Dogs2Vets Dog trainer.

U.S. Army Veteran Sergeant Michael Raith has been a volunteer for Clear Path for the past three years and is the Home for the Brave's resident, along with his daughter and his service dog Blue.