K9s For Warriors
October 1, 2020
K9s for Warriors was founded in 2011 to provide service dogs to disabled American veterans. The dogs who are paired with veterans are meant to help them overcome PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and/or military sexual trauma. Since 2011, K9s for Warriors has rescued over 1,000 dogs and has had over 630 graduates of their 3-week Veteran Training Program become paired with a pup. The goal of the program is to empower their Warriors to return to a life of dignity and independence. Once in the program, a PTSD service dog is provided to the veteran at no cost. Pairing these individuals with service dogs provides them with a partner in a life-changing journey, not only saving the veteran but finding a forever home for a dog in need.
After serving time in the military, coming home and adapting to everyday life can be difficult for veterans. With a K9s for Warriors dog, veterans can gain the emotional means to repair their relationship with themselves, their families, and friends.
“With each graduate pair, we save two lives; we rescue the dog, the dog rescues the Warrior”
A perfect example of that is Greg Wells and his service dog Utah. Greg is a graduate of K9s for Warriors Class of 2015. Since graduating, Greg found a new purpose in life alongside Utah, becoming K9s for Warriors’ Program Manager.
Greg and Utah join Lisa Germani on Community Connect to talk about the life-changing effects that K9s for Warriors can have on the life of a dog and a veteran.
Most Recent News
Former Victoria man’s diabetic alert dog helps him get back to life
When Luke Hengen’s diabetes worsened in his early twenties, it stripped him of the outdoor activities where the country kid felt at home. Countless wilderness adventures and years of hard-fought football games took a toll on his body, to the point where he could no longer sense when his blood sugar was too high or […]
Students Get Therapy Dog
When middle school students return to class on Jan. 11, they’ll find a new face at the door: Daisy. Daisy is a therapy dog and the personal pet of Rob Kreger, principal of the Rock L. Butler Middle School. The five-year-old golden retriever is not a school pet or mascot, but rather a working dog […]
Therapy Dogtor
Last March, Caroline Benzel, a third-year medical student, began to notice the stress and discomfort her nurse friends were feeling from the pressures of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. “[Personal protective equipment] can be really rough on the skin,” Benzel, 31, tells PEOPLE. Benzel and her 3-year-old Rottweiler, Loki (who’s also a therapy dog) hatched a […]
Therapy Dog Pups
When Stanley the miniature fox terrier’s owner passed away, the little dog started a ‘paw-some’ new role – bringing puppy love to some of the Gold Coast’s oldest residents. After Carinity Cedarbrook Diversional Therapist Julianne Staff adopted Stanley, he began visiting the aged care community at Mudgeeraba as a therapy dog. Therapy dogs help to […]
Puppy Cams
A nonprofit is providing an unusual form of therapy for those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic – puppy cams! “You spend five minutes with a puppy and try not to smile,” said registered nurse Robin Lingg Lagrone. Lingg Lagrone says watching little furballs wag their tails and prance on their paws helps […]
Pet Committee
When Moore County’s school doors were abruptly closed earlier in 2020, two- and four-legged volunteers from the Moore County Citizens’ Pet Responsibility Committee (PRC) were in their 12th year of presenting a six-session Pet Responsibility Education Program for fourth-graders. The PRC quickly shifted gears and placed its program materials online as part of a home […]