Jones Foster, a 100-year-old commercial and private client law firm with offices in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, and Jupiter, is proud to support Lake Worth-based nonprofit Paws 4 Liberty in recognition of Veterans Day and Florida’s inaugural Veterans Appreciation Month. This observance was signed into law this year by Gov. Ron DeSantis to honor and celebrate the achievements and sacrifices of our veterans across the state.
Paws 4 Liberty is dedicated to helping local veterans in Palm Beach County and the surrounding areas regain their independence and confidence through the assistance of trained service dogs who improve the quality of life for veterans through a supportive and enduring relationship.
Jones Foster invited the Paws 4 Liberty (P4L) representatives as well as veterans and service dog graduates for an afternoon luncheon at its West Palm Beach office as an opportunity to learn more about the organization’s programming, its impact in the community, and the experiences of local veterans during their military service and how they have benefitted from the P4L service dog training program.
Paws 4 Liberty Executive Director Heidi Spirazza offered opening remarks and discussed her background in occupational therapy. Knowing that the country was about to go into war and that service dogs could help heal veterans upon their return, she founded the organization following the events of 9/11. “Our veterans are going to speak about their experiences with having their dogs and how they help them with everything. I am honored to be a Jupiter native and being able to share with other locals…I am humbled by the support and appreciation our community has offered us.”
Head Trainer Mycaela McCorry explained how the organization differentiates its service dog training program from other nonprofits. “What makes us unique is that we have a boutique almost customized program so we’re able to work one-on-one with out veterans. When we meet our veterans, we go into detail about what symptoms that they experience on a bad day. On those bad days is when their symptoms are the highest…when we go into each one of their symptoms, we then individualize the training,” she said. Additionally, Paws 4 Liberty offers continued support and training to a veteran and their dog for life through follow-up calls and routine visits.
Mycaela and service dog Zara Blue provided a demonstration of the types of tasks often required of the service dogs. The trainer explained how all dogs are trained in deep pressure therapy and that when a dog lays on certain pressure points of the body, including on the tops of the thighs and on the chest, it can provide the veteran immediate relief. “When those pressure points are activated and that dog – which is going to be a big fuzzy weighted blanket – lays across those pressure points, it actually creates a grounding response in the brain," Mycaela said. "So if our veterans are having anxiety, a panic attack, or a depressive episode, they can ask for a pressure command and then a chemical release in the brain will physically ground them. When our veterans are going through a panic attack or an anxiety attack, they may know it’s not real, but their body is still physically reacting.”
Accompanying the veterans were their service dogs, each trained specifically to meet the individual’s physical and/or psychological needs. The veterans who attended included Robert, a former U.S. Army paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and his dog, Gunnar; Roy, a U.S. Marine infantryman who served in Afghanistan and his dog, Koda; and William, a U.S. Army 7th Infantry ID M60 gunner, and his dog Reese.
Jones Foster board member and shareholder Steven J. Rothman presented Paws 4 Liberty with a donation through the firm’s Jones Foster Impact community involvement program. “Heidi, it’s very admirable that you started this organization to help our veterans… We want to make a financial contribution to this amazing organization for all the good work you’re doing for the veterans and their animals,” Mr. Rothman said. “Veterans Day is a tremendously important holiday to honor the service that you’ve given to our country to ensure our freedom and our safety. We thank you for that, we thank all the veterans for that.”
Jones Foster is celebrating its Centennial year as a full-service commercial and private client law firm headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, with offices in Palm Beach and Jupiter. Tracing its roots back to 1924, the firm has served as an integral part of South Florida’s growth and prosperity. Through a relentless pursuit of excellence, Jones Foster delivers original legal solutions that help clients, colleagues, and the community to move forward. A significant number of attorneys have received the designation of Board-Certified Specialist by The Florida Bar in their specific practice area. The firm’s practice groups include Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution; Corporate & Tax; Land Use & Governmental; Private Wealth, Wills, Trusts & Estates; Real Estate; and Trust & Estate Litigation. For more information, please visit www.jonesfoster.com.
