STEVE & MIA                         Matched: 2/10/2017

Mardu has been involved with animal rescue for over 20 years. In addition she has fostered many dogs and cats placing them in their forever homes. During this time, she has grown her pet family to include 5 dogs and 1 cat. You can’t foster all these years and not be a foster fail a couple of times!

On May 1, 2014, Mardu Lydick, alone with her husband Ron, launched the Ventura County, CA Chapter of Pets For Vets (PFV VCC). PFV VCC provided professionally trained shelter companion dogs for our local veterans who suffer from combat PTS(D), TBI, anxiety and depression. Over the next 4 years, they successfully built a strong and experienced team of talented volunteers that included several professional dog trainers. One of the trainers, Bob Horrell – a Vietnam Veteran, stepped up to manage the dedicated dog training team. Both Mardu & Bob became active members in the surrounding Ventura County Military/Veteran Community and realized that there was a much larger need for expanded therapeutic pet support services.

So in May 2018, Mardu along with Bob Horrell, Co-Founded the non profit Military Animal Project (MAP). Mardu is the Executive Director and runs the day to day business needs of MAP managing the dedicated team of volunteers who ensure that the organization successfully meets their goals – Healing Vets with Professionally Trained Pets!

Mardu Lydick has a BA in Radio/TV Broadcasting with a concentration in Film. She spent over 25 years as a media sales and marketing executive working with home entertainment accounts managing their media manufacturing of CD, DVD, Blu Ray, packaging and fulfillment/distribution.

Mardu and her family live in Camarillo, CA

Bob Horrell, Co-Founder
Director of Operations

Bob Horrell enlisted in the United States Navy in October 1964, serving two tours of duty in Vietnam from 1966 to 1968, where he was part of Operation Market Time.  His assignments included identifying and eliminating hostile vessels transporting arms from North Vietnam to South Vietnam via the river deltas.

Upon leaving the Navy in October 1968, Bob experienced difficulty entering civilian life after enduring traumatic events of the war.  It was shortly after that time he realized working with animals was therapeutic, which greatly helped him in coping with PTS(D) – Post Traumatic Stress (disorder).  Three years ago he discovered the Ventura County Chapter of Pets For Vets and began volunteering as a dog trainer.

On May 7, 2018, Bob became the Co-Founder and Director of Operations for Military Animal Project.  Bob meets with every veteran that applies for a dog along with the trainer assigned to facilitate essential dialog enabling the organization to understand each veteran’s special needs.  He also assists in searching for appropriate dogs for the veterans and consulting when training issues arise.

Bob lives with his family in Acton, CA

Anne Kokawa Prokopovych
Director of Finance

Anne Kokawa Prokopovych is proud to be the first volunteer to join Mardu and Ron Lydick as they began the initial phases of forming a nonprofit organization in Ventura County to provide pet support services for military veterans.  She currently volunteers in financial recordkeeping and reporting, as well as for fundraising and other events for the Military Animal Project.

Anne is a retired vice president of finance business support for a major financial services company.  She earned a B.A. in Mathematics and Psychology and an M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from UCLA.