Roy McCoy roy@robconews.com Robertson County News ROBERTSON COUNTY — The Robertson County Republican Women recently attended an ABC’s Readership Training hosted by the Texas Federation of Republican Women, an event designed to help local clubs strengthen their outreach and leadership efforts. While the training covered a variety of topics, one presentation in particular stood out and left a lasting impression on attendees. Rick Stevens, executive director of Patriot Paws Service Dogs, addressed the group during the closing session and shared the organization’s mission of helping injured veterans rebuild their independence through specially trained service dogs. Stevens was accompanied by Miss Pearl, a service dog whose calm presence helped bring the message to life. Patriot Paws Service Dogs is a Texas-based nonprofit organization founded in 2006 and headquartered in Rockwall. The group provides service dogs at no cost to veterans coping with mobility limitations, post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries, and other service-related challenges. Each dog is trained to perform tasks tailored to the specific needs of its veteran partner, from assisting with balance and mobility to retrieving items and helping manage anxiety. Training a service dog is a lengthy and intensive process, often taking up to two years from start to finish. The cost to fully train and place one dog is approximately $45,000, which covers veterinary care, food, equipment, professional training, and continued support after placement. Patriot Paws also works with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice through a prison-based training program, where incarcerated individuals assist with early training while gaining valuable skills. Volunteers and puppy raisers from the community help socialize the dogs before they move into advanced training. Veterans who receive a Patriot Paws service dog participate in on-site training to build a strong working relationship with their dog, ensuring both are prepared for daily life together. Support continues well beyond placement, helping each partnership succeed long-term. Inspired by the presentation, members of the Robertson County Republican Women have expressed interest in raising funds in the near future to help sponsor a service dog for a Texas veteran. Club leaders said learning firsthand about the time, care, and dedication involved in training these animals made the mission especially meaningful.