Participants in the recent Paw-Some Dwyer Dog Ruck Walk are pictured.

Tails were wagging and leashes at the ready for the Paw-Some Dwyer Dog Ruck Walk held recently at Bergman Park.

Organized by the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project and Suicide Prevention Alliance of Chautauqua County, the walk saw 25 dogs and their humans come together to support suicide prevention and awareness. Local veterans and mental health advocates were on hand to lend their support to the walk, which encouraged participants to bring their dogs along for a one-mile journey. This journey symbolized the 22 veterans who tragically take their lives daily.

Participants were invited to carry rucksacks of any weight they chose, representing the heavy burdens many veterans carry each day. The event aimed to shed light on these struggles while fostering a sense of community and support among attendees.

“The Paw-Some Dwyer Dog Ruck Walk is a heartfelt event that not only brings our community together but also raises crucial awareness about the struggles our veterans face daily,” said Cindy Reidy, Dwyer Program coordinator. “It’s inspiring to see so many people and their furry friends come out to support this cause.”

For more information about the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project or the Suicide Prevention Alliance of Chautauqua County, please visit dwyerchautauqua.com or preventsuicidechq.com.

Those experiencing a crisis or who know someone experiencing a crisis can reach out to the 24/7 Chautauqua County Crisis Hotline at 1-800-724-0461, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or text TALK to 741741 to connect with the Crisis Text Line.