ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are more than 3.6 million veterans with a service-related disability. Many of these veterans need day-to-day household and lifestyle assistance services. The GreenCare for Troops Program connects disabled veterans with landscaping services, including maintenance of their yards when military personnel are deployed. When Heads Up Landscape Contractors heard through the program about a wounded Army veteran in Albuquerque who needed grass in his backyard for his service dog, the company jumped in with much more than sod and sprinklers.
“We only asked for grass for Lucky, my mastiff/Great Dane service dog,” says Michael Martinez, a service-disabled veteran whose eight years in the Army included two 15-month tours in Iraq. “Lucky alerts me when I need oxygen for my headaches as a result of a traumatic brain injury, and reminds me to take my medication twice a day. He also helps me walk. I have a back injury and I put my weight on him when I go up and down stairs, or when I get tired.”
“We’ve participated in the GreenCare for Troops program for seven years – it’s very rewarding for us,” says Andrew Key, president of Heads Up Landscape Contractors. “We’ve taken care of landscaping for eight to 10 service people, some for three months and some as much as a year. Heads Up believes strongly in giving back to the community, and we are thrilled to be able to help our veterans who have given their all in service to the country.”
In August, Heads Up installed grass, plants, a tree, an irrigation system and gravel in the Martinez’s backyard. The easy to maintain landscape even has a garden area for Martinez and his family to plant flowers or vegetables. The crew returned to the Martinez home in the early fall to spray pre-emergent for weeds, and will winterize the irrigation system in mid- to late November, all at no charge to Martinez. The estimated value of the project was $9,000 to 10,000.
“Before, it was hard to train the dog outside. Now it’s easy to keep up on training, and for the kids to be outside. My son Jaden has autism and his behavior has gotten better because he can be outside on the grass more,” said Martinez. “Everyone at Heads Up was fantastic. Everyone was approachable, and listened to us and what we wanted. They are very, very nice people. It’s such a huge help.”
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