Determined to end veteran suicide, K9s For Warriors provides highly-trained Service Dogs to military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual drama.

To date, K9s For Warriors has graduated more than 800 Warrior-K9 teams and rescued nearly 2,000 dogs overall. With the majority of 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.

1. Why is it needed?

a) Roughly 20 veterans who served post-9/11 commit suicide daily.

b) Around 20% of post-9/11 veterans suffer from PTSD, equating to more than 700,000 veterans.

c) Service members suffering from PTSD are at a higher risk for suicide.

d) Around 700,000 dogs are euthanized in shelters every year. Many of these are wonderful dogs who can be trained as Service Dogs for veterans in need.

2. What is PTSD?

a) Hyper-vigilance

b) Panic Attacks

c) Insomnia

d) Depression

e) Isolation

f) Hopelessness

3. How does the K9s For Warriors program work?

Each month, veterans arrive at K9s For Warriors to take part in a three-week, in-house training program at no cost to them.  K9s For Warriors provides a trained Service Dog, housing, all meals, equipment, veterinary care, and training in a welcoming environment that provides essential peer-to-peer support. As the Service Dog is already trained prior to being paired with the veteran, the three-week training period is to teach the Warrior how to use his/her Service Dog, and to facilitate the bonding necessary for the two to be a successful team.

4. What types of dogs are used in the program?

We procure a majority of our dogs from high-kill shelters, rescue organizations, and owner-surrenders. Occasionally, we receive them from private donors. We do not choose by breed. We do have a few breed restrictions based on service work capability.

 5. How does a Service Dog help – what kind of skills are they trained to do?

a) Stand: dog places itself between the Warrior and someone approaching.

b) Look: dog stands and faces backward and “alerts” by a tail wag or ear perk if someone is approaching.

c) Wakes up handler from nightmares.

d) Additional tasks trained per Warrior’s unique needs: retrieve items, assist with mobility, brace to help a physically disabled Warrior stand.

e) Gives unconditional love and support.

f) The average Warrior is on 10-15 medications when they begin the program. 92% will reduce or eliminate prescription medications over time following their graduation from K9s For Warriors.

6. Is it proven that Service Dogs work?

This treatment method is backed by scientific research (from University of Arizona’s OHAIRE Lab) demonstrating Service Dogs’ ability to help mitigate their veteran’s symptoms of PTSD while simultaneously restoring their confidence and independence.

2018. The first study was published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in February 2018. Results confirmed Service Dogs provide both physical and psychological benefits to veterans’ well being.

2019. The second research study was published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology in June 2018. Data was gathered from saliva samples of participants to measure cortisol levels (“the stress hormone”). Researchers found that PTSD-sufferers who had a Service Dog produced cortisol levels close to those of a standard healthy adult.

2020. A third study was published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science in February 2019. It found that the bond between veterans and Service Dogs far exceeded that of a human-pet relationship.