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Associated Press
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Chase Plastics Concludes Inaugural Veteran Giving Campaign
'We are truly moved by the overwhelming response from our customers and suppliers who submitted so many thoughtful nominations'— Kevin Chase, Chase Plastics CEO CLARKSTON, MI, UNITED STATES, July 3, 2025 / / -- After four weeks of overwhelming participation from customers and suppliers, Chase Plastics is proud to announce the recipients of its first-ever Veteran Giving Campaign. The campaign, which ran from May 23 through June 20, was created to honor the service and sacrifice of our nation's heroes. As part of the campaign, three veteran-focused charities will each receive a $2,500 donation, helping further their missions of serving veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. The winners are being announced just ahead of Independence Day, as a fitting tribute to those who have served our country. The recipients of $2,500 donations through the 2025 Chase Plastics Veteran Giving Campaign are: - Disabled American Veterans (DAV) – A non-profit organization that empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity by providing free assistance with benefit claims, transportation to medical appointments, and employment resources. - Gary Sinise Foundation – Founded by actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise, the foundation honors defenders, veterans, first responders, and their families through programs that build specially adapted smart homes, support mental wellness, and provide relief and resources for wounded heroes. - Hero Pups – A nonprofit dedicated to pairing specially trained service dogs with veterans and first responders dealing with service-related challenges, including PTSD and anxiety. 'We are truly moved by the overwhelming response from our customers and suppliers who submitted so many thoughtful nominations,' said Chase Plastics CEO, Kevin Chase. 'It's a testament to the strong sense of community and shared commitment to honoring those who have served our country. Supporting the brave men and women who protect our freedoms is deeply personal to us, and we are honored to contribute to organizations that make a meaningful impact in the lives of veterans and their families.' The Chase Plastics Veteran Giving Campaign was introduced in 2025 to complement the company's longstanding Chase Giving Card holiday campaign, which has supported dozens of charitable organizations since its inception ten years ago. Learn more by going to Sherry Cudd Chase Plastics Services, Inc. +1 248-620-8333 [email protected] Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Maine's first official comfort dog is found dead in sweltering hot state vehicle
The death of Maine 's first official comfort dog is under investigation after the beloved pooch was left to bake to death inside a state vehicle. Baxter, 3, a Chocolate Labrador retriever, was found dead inside the vehicle late last month while it was parked at the Bangor Regional Communications Center in Bangor. Officials in the Pine Tree State said the pup had been left in the running vehicle but that something caused the engine to cut out, causing the air conditioning to stop. At the time, the National Weather Service said that Bangor had reached a high temperature of 83 degrees. The Department of Public Safety said that the vehicle in question was undergoing a inspection to identify any potential faults. On Wednesday, the department said it would be investigating the circumstances surrounding the dog's death. The probe is being led by the Animal Welfare Program, which forms part of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF). Baxter had joined the state bureau of Emergency Communications in 2022 to offer emotional support to telecommunicators at three regional dispatch centers. State officials said the pup had been left in the running vehicle but that something caused the engine to cut out, causing the air conditioning to stop Laura Barker, founder of Hero Pups, a non profit that provides dogs to first responders, described Baxter as being 'a great dog with a love for life.' 'During the training process we go through a lot of the obedience, the dogmanship stuff, the handling, the transportation,' she told WABI5. 'We can make recommendations, but once the dog leaves us we don't have any say on that matter anymore. 'I'm hoping this will get people talking and really be more committed to the care of the dogs on a broader scope, not just doing a job.' Barker added that Baxter had made a huge impact in people's lives in his short time, adding that his handler was 'devastated'. She had set up the organization to support veterans and first responders after her son was wounded in Afghanistan. Baxter was the first comfort dog the organization had sent to Maine. He came from a litter that needed constant care due to his mother's health issues. 'His calming and cheerful presence will be deeply missed by all those who interacted with him,' the DPS said in a statement following Baxter's passing. 'The department extends its deepest condolences to Baxter's handler and his family, as well as the entire emergency telecommunication team.'
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nonprofit founder who trained Maine's first comfort dogs mourns his loss
May 30—Maine's first comfort dog, Baxter, had been rescued as a puppy and bottle-fed by volunteers for a nonprofit in New Hampshire that pairs trained dogs with veterans and first responders. "We're heartbroken," the organization's founder, Laura Barker, said in an interview on Friday, a day after the Maine Department of Public Safety announced Baxter had been found dead in a state vehicle. "We know that Baxter was loved his whole time on Earth," Barker said. "He also helped a lot of people while he was here." Barker said she and her colleagues are still in shock at the loss, and are confident that the department will conduct a thorough investigation. It's still unclear exactly what led to Baxter's death. The 3-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever had been working as a comfort dog for dispatchers under the Maine Bureau of Emergency Communications since he was introduced to the state in the fall of 2022. A spokesperson for the department said he was found dead Wednesday afternoon after the vehicle "unexpectedly" shut off while he was inside. The vehicle was parked at the communications center in Bangor, where the National Weather Service recorded temperatures up to 82 degrees that afternoon. Shannon Moss, a spokesperson for DPS, said she could not answer questions about the type of vehicle and how long the dog was left inside. She confirmed that Brodie Hinckley, the director of the Bureau of Emergency Communications, had been Baxter's handler. Hinckley did not respond to requests for an interview on Friday. Moss did not answer follow up questions asking if Hinckley was placed on leave. Some newer vehicles have an auto shut-off feature, where the engine is disabled after a certain amount of time if it's left running while parked. In recent years, some police departments have purchased technology that will alert officers if the car shuts off or gets too hot. The Humane World for Animals, formerly known as the Humane Society, notes that temperatures inside a car can rise rapidly in minutes. Even with the windows opened slightly, temperatures can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes on an 85 degree day, according to Humane World. Baxter was trained through Hero Pups and AT&T FirstNet paid for the dog's vet visits and supplies before he joined the bureau in 2022, according to Hero Pups and the Department of Public Safety. Barker, Hero Pups founder, said Baxter's DPS handler took care of him full-time after his first birthday, but he came back to the New Hampshire non-profit occasionally for training. She encouraged the public to wait to hear all of the details before assuming what happened. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Maine public safety dog dies in state vehicle that 'unexpectedly' stopped running
May 29—The state's "first official comfort dog" died Wednesday while inside a vehicle that "unexpectedly" stopped running. Baxter, a 3-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever, was found dead inside a state vehicle at the Bangor Regional Communications Center around 2 p.m. The vehicle, which he was regularly transported in, stopped running and the air conditioning turned off, the Department of Public Safety said in a statement Thursday. The agency is conducting an inspection to determine why and how the vehicle malfunctioned. A spokesperson did not respond Thursday to questions about how long the dog was left inside the vehicle and what type of vehicle he was in. Baxter was brought on to the Maine Bureau of Emergency Communications in 2022 to "help improve the mood and well-being of first-line responders in Maine's three emergency communication centers" in Augusta, Bangor and Houlton, the Department of Public Safety said. He was trained through the New Hampshire-based nonprofit Hero Pups, which pairs dogs with first responders and veterans. Since then, he has appeared at several conferences and spent time with dispatchers at the communications center, the Department of Public Safety said in social media posts. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
