Unconditional Love Meets Specialized 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, TBI and/or MST. 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 often include flashbacks, memory issues, hyperarousal or edginess, mood changes, nightmares or insomnia. Veterans with PTSD often struggle to reintegrate into civilian life, which can affect everything from their own health and well-being to relationships with others and the 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 a Veteran and giving them renewed freedom. Although our Service Dogs are taught basic training cues such as ‘sit’ and ‘stay,’ they also receive specialized training to mitigate a Veteran’s symptoms of PTSD. Here are just a few of the ways they provide lifesaving support, and the training cues they’ve learned:
Lap: to provide deep compression therapy to calm a Veteran’s anxiety
Look: to sit next to their Warrior and face behind them to “watch their six”
Stand: to create a barrier in public spaces to ease hypervigilance in crowds
Brace: to support a Veteran as they move to stand, sit or kneel
“He’s really made me feel better about myself and the PTSD and trauma that I go through when I’m at home living alone.”
— TD, Army Veteran
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 Veterans can carry, but also the impact you can make in the lives of Veterans with PTSD. Your gift today can help place more life-changing Service Dogs into the hands of Veterans in need!
| I Want to Help Save More Lives! |
