Unconditional Love Meets Skilled Training

K9s For Warriors is the nation’s leading provider of trained Service Dogs for Veterans with invisible wounds. We are determined to end Veteran suicide by providing highly trained Service Dogs to Veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma. Many of our dogs are rescued, meaning your support helps save two lives — a dog and a Veteran in need of a battle buddy.

What is PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious condition that can develop after an individual has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. The symptoms can vary widely, but they often include flashbacks, memory issues, anxiety, edginess, mood changes, nightmares or insomnia. Veterans living with PTSD often struggle to reintegrate into civilian life, which can affect their health and well-being, their relationships with others and their ability to adapt to public environments.

How a Service Dog Can Help

Our Service Dogs are trained to stay by their Warrior’s side, supporting them and giving them renewed freedom. Our Service Dogs are taught basic cues such as ‘sit,’ ‘stay’ and ‘heel,’ but they also receive specialized training to mitigate a Veteran’s symptoms of PTSD. Here are just a few of the ways in which Service Dogs provide lifesaving support, and the cues they’ve learned:

• ‘Lap’: Provide deep compression therapy to calm a Veteran’s anxiety
• ‘Look’: Sit next to their Warrior and face behind them to watch their back
• ‘Stand’: Create a barrier in public spaces to ease anxiety and uneasiness in crowds
• ‘Brace’: Support a Veteran as they move to stand, sit or kneel

It All Starts with YOU

The K9s For Warriors process all starts with compassionate supporters — people like you! June is PTSD Awareness Month, and we’re setting out to increase awareness not only about the invisible wounds that Veterans can carry, but also about how you can support them. Your gift today can help place more life-changing Service Dogs into the hands of Veterans in need!