JAGUARS SIGN PAWFENSIVE LINEMAN MAURICE BONES-DREW TO 2022 ROSTER
K9s For Warriors Trainee to be sponsored this season by Dream Finders Homes and the Jaguars
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed pawfensive lineman Maurice Bones-Drew to the 2022 roster, the club announced today.
The 17-week-old rookie golden retriever joins the team while in training with K9s For Warriors, the nation’s largest provider of Service Dogs for military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma. His training is being sponsored by Dream Finders Homes and the Jaguars.
This season, “Mojo” will be training in and around Jaguars events and on game day, learning skills such as alerting his owner to someone approaching, retrieving items, assisting with mobility and, of course, offering unconditional love and support.
Voted on by fans in an online contest, Maurice Bones-Drew is named after legendary Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew who played eight seasons for the Jaguars and rushed for 8,176 yards and 68 TDs from 2006-13. Jones-Drew was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, and his 81 TDs stand as the most in franchise history.
K9s For Warriors procures dogs from a variety of places, including animal shelters, rescues, and dog donations. The procurement team tirelessly searches surrounding animal shelters, seeking suitable Service Dog candidates. K9s For Warriors is dedicated to saving two lives — a veteran and a shelter dog.
For some Service Dogs — like Mojo will soon be — training starts early. The K9s For Warriors Puppy Program consists of volunteers who dedicate countless hours training and caring for a puppy before it enters the kennels to become a future Service Dog. Puppies like Mojo stay with the volunteer puppy raiser until 10-14 months of age, learning basic skills. Then, they return to K9s For Warriors to complete training before being paired with a veteran in need.
About K9s For Warriors
Determined to end veteran suicide, K9s For Warriors is the nation’s largest provider of trained Service Dogs to military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma. With most dogs coming from high-kill rescue shelters, this innovative program allows the K9/Warrior team to build an unwavering bond that facilitates their collective healing and recovery. This treatment method is backed by scientific research (from Purdue University’s OHAIRE Lab) demonstrating Service Dogs’ ability to help mitigate their veteran’s symptoms of PTSD while simultaneously restoring their confidence and independence. Founded in 2011 as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, K9s For Warriors remains committed to bringing widespread awareness to veterans’ mental health and contributing to policy-level reform.
The organization’s facilities include: K9s For Warriors National Headquarters (Ponte Vedra, FL) Davis Family Mega Kennel (Ponte Vedra, FL) Gold Family Campus (Alachua, FL) Petco Love K9 Center (San Antonio, Texas) and K9s For Warriors at Heidi’s Village (Phoenix, AZ).
For more information about K9s For Warriors, visit www.k9sforwarriors.org.