Formation 2010 Type 501(C)(3) | Founder Shari Duval Executive Director Rory Diamond | |
Focus Alternate therapy for helping veterans cope with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Animal welfare Location Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida | ||
K9s For Warriors is an American charity and veterans service organization that provides service dogs to veterans. The organization trains rescue dogs to help veterans coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, post-9/11 issues and other psychological challenges associated with military service.
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History
K9s For Warriors was founded in 2011 by Shari Duval who was inspired by her son, Brett Simon, a contractor who returned from two tours in Iraq and was suffering from severe post-traumatic stress.
Program
K9s For Warriors trains and evaluates rescued dogs before providing them to veterans as service dogs for no charge. The organization accommodates veterans during a three week live-in program to facilitate bonding with a trained dog, following which the veterans are sent home along with their service dog. As of April, 2016, K9s For warriors has provided service dogs to over 218 combat veterans. The organization claims that 95% of dogs used in the program are rescues, with the other 5% coming from breeders or being surrendered by owners .
Media coverage
K9s For Warriors' alternate therapy using service dogs has been appreciated by several veterans and has been covered extensively in mainstream media.
In September 2015, a K9s for Warriors' service dog named Axel provided to Captain Jason Haag, a Marine veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, was denied entry into an American Airlines flight. Haag and Axel were on their return from an event conducted by the American Humane Association where Axel had won a Service Dog of the Year award. The incident received considerable attention in the news and social media.
In November 2015, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton was nominated for NFL's Salute to Service award for his work with K9s for Warriors.