Nonprofit providing service dogs to veterans impacted by funding cuts

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A veteran who suffered serious injuries in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan is receiving help from a furry friend.

In 2021, U.S. Marine Corporal Kelsee Lainhart was assisting in evacuating the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.

She suffered “catastrophic” injuries when a suicide bomber detonated an IED in a crowd full of people, according to the Gary Sinise Foundation.

The explosion left Lainhart with a spinal cord injury and in a wheelchair.

The Rescue 22 Foundation then stepped in and provided Lainhart with a service dog.

Ollie, a golden retriever mix, immediately started helping Lainhart reclaim her independence.

But now, the Rescue 22 Foundation is being impacted by funding cuts, leaving dozens of veterans waiting for a service dog.

The organization expects the waiting list of veterans to grow longer due to the loss of federal grants.

The Rescue 22 Foundation is seeking donations to help veterans like Lainhart, who benefited from having a service dog at her side.

You can learn more about the nonprofit by visiting its website.