One lucky veteran will receive a furry friend this holiday season

IDAHO FALLS — Coming Home Inc., a local nonprofit, is starting its first annual Pet for a Vet initiative.

Coming Home Inc. is partnering with KID News Radio to give one local veteran a trained golden retriever puppy to help with disabilities seen and unseen.

Dog breeders Nicole and Jordan Thacker donated purebred Willow for the initiative. Once the veteran has been chosen, Willow will spend a month in the veteran’s home and then she will go to service animal training tailored to the veteran’s needs.

To be considered, nominations must be for veterans 21 or older who have served in any branch of the U.S. Military and must live in eastern Idaho.

Coming Home Inc. started after veteran Ben Gomm’s tragic passing in 2018 due to PTSD-related issues. In response, his sister, Oliane Scott, wanted to do something to give back to veterans.

Scott founded the nonprofit to connect veterans through service and love to heal and unite. They hold monthly events for veterans that often involve a service project.

“I wanted our veterans serving the community because I think all of us know how incredibly healing serving can be,” said Donella McGiff, the Coming Home Inc. vice president and sister of Gomm and Scott.

Scott and McGiff want to help veterans as they navigate their return to civilian life.

“When veterans come home, it’s hard to feel integrated into a society that you completely do not know anymore,” McGiff said. “They’re brought into the military to break down and become something, and then they’re just thrown back into the community.”

McGiff says they are still looking for sponsors to help cover the cost of the service animal training. If you’d like to contribute, email McGiff at donella.cominghomeinc@gmail.com.

To nominate a veteran, fill out the form on the KID News Radio website. Coming Home Inc. is accepting veteran nominations until Nov. 30. The chosen veteran will be announced Dec. 9.

For more information about Coming Home Inc., visit its website.

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