Florida Woman Works to Support Veterans through Dogs Inc.

December 13, 2024 | Sarasota

With a son who is a combat veteran and a love for dogs, Kris Watts says that her involvement with Dogs Inc is a natural fit.  Through Neal Communities Plan for Giving, which has as part of its mission supporting causes that are important to its staff, Watts secured a $5,000 scholarship that will provide a service dog to a veteran with PTSD and other disabilities. 

Dogs Inc trains service and guide dogs of the highest pedigree for veterans and people who are visually impaired, providing its premier dogs at no cost. Headquartered in Palmetto, Dogs Inc is the only organization in North America to provide guide and service dogs, online and in-person training, lifetime alumni support, premium dog food, and preventive veterinary care all at no cost for the life of the partnership.

An accounting manager at Neal Land and Neighborhoods, Watts previously worked at Neal Communities and the company elected to continue to support her cause, Watts says she became involved after her lab passed and instead of getting another dog, she chose to volunteer with the organization to get in her “dog time.”  Additionally, she has a heart for veterans.

“My son is a combat Veteran who has worked incredibly hard to adapt to his new normal, dealing with PTSD/Traumatic Brain Injury,” she says.  “I’m so proud of him. I don’t know a better way to say it except these guys carry the burden of war for all of us. I don’t know that many realize the cost. It’s a lifetime – not just a few years. Knowing many of these dogs go to provide relief and improve the lives of veterans – all at no cost to them – makes the time I spend at Dogs Inc all the richer.  Really, I am so impressed with the whole mission of Dogs Inc and very proud to get to be a small part of their team.”

When a veteran is provided a service dog, they come to the Dogs Inc campus for two weeks where they are matched with a dog and receive education and instruction with their dog.

“The donation from Neal will support that education and training,” she adds. “The end result is the veteran has a highly-skilled dog who has, prior to being matched with a veteran, learned 15 – 20 advanced skills designed to assist with symptoms and situations related to post-traumatic stress. These dogs restore freedom and provide confidence and hope to someone who carries the burden of war for all of us.”

Watts secured the donation from Neal Communities through the company’s Plan for Giving, a philanthropic program that supports quality of life initiatives and education and has a large element of employee-led giving, where the company supports causes that are important to its staff

“I am so proud to work for a Neal entity,” Watts says.  “Pat (Neal) encourages us to volunteer and give back, which is so wonderful coming from leadership. I fully believe the donation was made, at least in part, just because it means so much to me. It really makes me feel like a valued member of the Neal team. Pretty incredible. I see it all the time here – the Neal family supporting the work and passions of employees outside of their work here. It’s like a ripple effect. The employees win, the organization wins, and the greater community wins. How cool is that?”