High school student’s senior project raises money to help Foster ranch provide service dog to veteran

FOSTER, R.I. (WLNE) — Dare to Dream Ranch and one high school student are working together to provide a service animal to a veteran that may be struggling with their mental health.

Emma Vincent, a senior at Ponaganset High School, loves animals and helping others.

“Knowing that animals can help support veterans with their PTSD helped too, knowing that my love for the animals could also help,” Vincent said.

Tuesday morning, Sage, an Australian Shepard gave birth to eight adorable puppies at Dare to Dream Ranch in Foster.

It’s the second litter that Karen Dalton, the founder of Dare to Dream Ranch, will train to be psychiatric service dogs.

Dalton said the puppies are trained “to be paired with a veteran that may have PTSD, anxiety, depression, military sexual drama, so mental health.”

With her veteran grandfather in mind, Vincent is raising $7,500 to sponsor one of the dogs, which is part of her senior passion project at school.

“This will help fund the training, food, water, care, everything until it goes to their veteran,” Vincent explained.

The money also goes toward getting the dogs spayed and neutered, and by sponsoring one, Vincent would pay for the cost to train the puppy to become a service dog.

Ultimately, the ranch would like to raise enough money to train all eight dogs, because Dalton has seen firsthand the comfort they can provide to those who have served.

“One veteran said to me recently that she hasn’t had a panic attack since she’s had her dog,” Dalton said. “I have another veteran that said their dog helps them feel braver out in public.”

To support Vincent’s senior project, go to daretodreamranch.org and leave a note mentioning this story.

Donations can also be sent via checks made out to Dare to Dream Ranch at 12 Snagwood Rd, Foster, RI, 02825.