K9s For Warriors is the nation’s largest provider of trained service dogs for Veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury or military sexual trauma, and hopes to reduce the number of Veterans who commit suicide.
Service dogs have allowed many Veterans a chance to reunite with their families, head back to school, find renewed enjoyment in life, and significantly reduce their medications.
For U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Quinton, his service dog Moly has given him the gift of living.
When Quinton returned home from combat, he found daily life nearly impossible. His PTSD left him feeling anxious and unsafe when doing everyday activities—tasks we don’t think twice about, like going to the mall or a grocery store. Desperate for a way to get back to the life he knew before service, Quinton learned about an alternative treatment method: a service dog specially trained to mitigate his symptoms.
Many Veterans who apply to K9s For Warriors have experienced hypervigilance and isolation due to their conditions. They’ve tried everything—pills, therapy, you name it — to combat their PTSD, and after many failed attempts, they turn to K9s For Warriors as a last resort.
Quinton wasn’t sure how a dog could help, but he felt he had nothing to lose. He joined the more than 850 other Veterans across the country who have reached out to K9s For Warriors and applied for a service dog.
Backed by scientific research, K9s For Warriors’ program empowers Veterans who fought for our freedom to live a life of dignity and independence a new life with a constant companion who offers no judgement, just unconditional love at the end of a leash.
With a majority of the dogs rescued from high-kill shelters, K9s For Warriors gives a second chance at life not just to Veterans, but dogs, too.
K9s For Warriors rescued Quinton’s service dog Moly after she was seized during an animal cruelty investigation. Moly was in bad shape, scared and distrustful of people, but the procurement team at K9s For Warriors saw her potential. Despite her condition and past trauma, Moly began the road to becoming a service dog, regaining her strength and trust in humans.
All of Moly’s worries melted away the moment she laid eyes on Quinton. With a K9s For Warriors trainer by her side, the gate to the play yard opened, and Moly immediately took off running into Quinton’s arms. Smiles stretched wide from ear to ear and they both seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Neither knew it yet, but this moment was only the beginning: Their bond has been unwavering since that day, and for the first time Quinton is excited for the future, and he believes Moly is, too. He says Moly has given him his life back. He can once again go out in crowded places without being anxious or nervous.
”There’s no greater gift than the gift of living,” said Quinton.
Apply for a service dog today, or learn more about K9s For Warriors.
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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs accepts service dogs as “dog of record” for veterans who are blind, deaf, or have mobility issues but does not accept them for any other disabilities that veterans have including PTSD. The VA does not provide the veteran with a dog they have to get them on their own but the VA will provide complete veterinary care as long as the dog is “working”. This means as your faithful companion ages and is no longer able to work or it gets an injury while working for you and now cannot keep working the VA stops the insurance benefits. Since you are only allowed one dog of record at a time you need to make a big decision when you need to replace. First, do you own the dog? If not you need to adopt them or return it to the group from where you got it.While your new dog is young and now fully insured your old dog will no longer have coverage of any kind and the veteran is responsible for all veterinary costs. You can get insurance which will cost the veteran up to $200.00 a month and does not cover half of what the VA covered. Or give your teammate back to the organization. If a veteran needs a new dog and cannot afford to adopt the older one the organization simply says return it as if you can give up your teammate, who has had your 6 or back all these years. The teammate that was there through some of the worst times of your life, the teammate that trusted you with his life, trusted you to always be there for them all these years.The service dog must also come from an organization affiliated with the International guide dog foundation for blind vets and/or both Assisted Dog International for mobility issues. Groups that often own the dog and lend them out like a wheelchair. The only group near me charges a $500.00 commitment fee and you need to agree to solicit $25,000.00 to wait 2 years. As bad as some of these rules are, veterans who need a service dog for deaf, blind or mobility issues can still get them. A veteran cannot get a service dog for allergy detection, autism, diabetic or psychiatric disabilities. A veteran with PTSD must prove he cannot leave the house without his service dog. The dog cannot go through a group that is not affiliated with the IGDF or ADI and cannot use a group that trains a service dog to identify triggers and aid our disabled veterans with PTSD. But instead veterans such as myself must obtain our own service dogs. The VA recommended I get a service dog, they wrote me a letter saying I was entitled to a service dog, gave me a name and number of where I should go to get a service dog. I did all they said and got a service dog from the organization the VA recommended. The VA in turn proceeded to tell me they will not accept my service dog because of the group that trained them and they do not accept PTSD service dogs. This is the group that the VA recommended and the group that stepped in for the VA, the group that gives veterans a dog and trains them free of charge. Sometimes a veteran could get a dog within days or weeks. This group also trains them to be PTSD dogs and are not trained by a guide or mobility organizations that do not specialize in PTSD and again this group charges the veteran nothing.
President Biden signed the 2021 PAWS act. I heard him tell the nation on national television how much it was needed for veterans of PTSD to be paired with dogs. But that P stands for pilot program, a program offered in 5 cities out of the over 108,000 cities and towns throughout our country of 50 states for a period of 5 years. The only guaranteed outcome to this pilot program sadly will be the loss of 40,000 more veterans.
All service dogs should be equal for all disabilities the ADA thinks so. For others though this can be the thing that saves a veteran’s life. I know without a shadow of doubt I wouldn’t be alive today if not for Shady and Magnet, my two service dogs that the VA recommended I get, from the group the VA recommended I go through. We Have way too many disabled veterans and too many dogs that need homes. We lose 22 veterans a day even if one life is saved, that’s 365 a year. I know my service dogs have kept me alive. Don’t we owe it to those service connected veterans? PTSD veterans are not looking for handouts they usually won’t ask for anything knowing the answer we will get. Am I missing something? Are we really trying to help our vets? Is this really how we thank our veterans? There are thousands of veterans in every state, not just five cities that need a dog and a thousand more dogs that need one more shot at life. It’s a win-win opportunity for everyone. In fact I personally think not only lives but also money saved. less prescribed drugs, less homelessness, increased workforce and for a few it will save lives and isn’t that enough of a reason?
If you visit the website for Saint Francis Commons you would see a picture of Rosie.A pug mix that I’ve had since birth.This month she turned 15 years.She has seen me through my PTSD issues her whole life.Right now she’s laying by my kitchen table right next to me.She knows when I’ve had bad nightmares.knowing her age,I know her time with me is limited even well she shops with me,goes to all medical appointments.She owns my back seat of my car.
I guess I’m texting you to keep me in mind for another service dog.Who knows when her day comes how that will affect me.It seems I can’t remember a day without her which leaves a big question mark on how my life will be.
I have PTSD how do I get a service ??
I have a PTSD service dog. The VA DID provide support for my dog in the form of FREE dog insurance. I used a VA form 10-2641, which was processed through my local VA center in Lebanon PA. It is handled by the prosthetics dept and the form is sent to the VHA Chief of Prosthetics in DC. I was approved on November 10, 2022 and I received a welcome packet and insurance card for my dog which I have used to pay the bills at my local veterinarian for my PTSD service dog. Phone Trupanion at 855-482-0163 and fact check me. I have the card and I DO NOT pay vet bills for my PTSD service dog.
I have a PTSD service dog. The VA DOES NOT provide support other than writing a letter to support. The insurance that is offered for PTSD mobility by the VA is denied even if you have mobility issues. Congress signed a law back in 2021 or so that says VA is supposed to provide if you have PTSD but the VA got a waiver. I got mine in Dec 2022 and still fighting with my local VA to provide that coverage and they have refused to date. For service dogs to go with you in public they must be ADI certified. Search google for it as there is a lot of information and ADI has their own website for resources.
You are wrong Damon.
Damon your right, the only service dog the VA accepts is for blind, hearing, mobility. The 2021 law was in August President signed it on national television called the PAWS act said he had help for us all. The truth is that program is in only 5 cities out of the 108,000 that are in our country. Service dogs DO NOT NEED TO BE ADI CERTIFIED. Your service dog can go in public and into a VA facility regardless of where it is trained and the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA says must be trained but not certified. I have 2 service dogs in Connecticut and are allowed anywhere according to ADA rules They are trained by a registered group that does not have to be affiliated with the ADI.
I have a support dog but I’d like to have him as a PTSD service dog how can I get him certified
I just bought a puppy. (4 1/2 months old) How do I get him trained for a service dog. This is after I have been talking to the VA to get a service dog and never got an helpful answer. I have been diagnosed with PTSD.
Find a reputable C.S.D. trainer that works with younger dogs. The younger the better, as they are sponges. Then typically if the trainer is accredited, certified, or a reputable company (preferably all). The VA “should” (situation depending) cover the training expenses.
If not, then research, socialize, basic obedience training, and work on task work your self.
Then find a local a FDSD evaluator to certify your dog when they are ready to be tested.
-Owner of K9CreationsNM
CPDT-KA, CCBC-KA, CSD
How do I apply?
Greetings, I finally got a service dog two years ago. His name is Admiral, he is a purebred American Bull dog, of the Johnson Breed. He is my best friend, and goes with me everywhere. I got him from a rescue shelter, and trained him. Now when I put his vest on, he goes everywhere with me, even to my VA appointments. Folks and my doctors are surprised at how obedient he is and as well as calm he is around folks. He is like two different dogs. That being when I put his vest on, he knows it’s time to go to work, and do what I trained him to do. When he is home, he gets to be a dog. However, he is protective when at home and when folks come to close, yet he never bites. Unless we are playing and wrestling around. He goes everywhere and folks are amazed. The catch is, I taught him military commands and that even surprises vets. I’ve done that so the average citizen won’t be able to call him, or give him a command, like come here boy, as an example. As I stated, he is my best friend and helps me every moment with my PTSD and TBI. I saved him, and he has saved me. Thanks for letting share my little story about the Admiral. Be blessed folks…
We need more people like you that should be “In office” to help us in getting a dog of our own, even though some of us (me included) cannot afford getting one, because of financial problems!! Thank you for your letter. Should be an inspiration for all of us wanting to get one.
I’m a disabled veteran with PTSD, and MST/depression, I would like more details about a PTSD, MST DOG. Thankyou, John Antonelli
How do I go about getting a service dog
You have to go to their site and apply.
wwwDynamicservicedog.com
I love this. I don’t have a “service” dog, but I often refer to my best friend as “my emotional support dog”. He is the kindest and most selfless soul. He instinctively knows when I’m triggered. He’ll lay his head on my lap and say “I love you” with his eyes.
I am a disable Vet . I found more of an active life by adopting 2 Huskies. I need to have them more trained and register as my sevice animals to be able to take them with me for assistance wherever l go
I recently got a puppy pitbull born on Thanksgiving 23 she’s a really sweet dog I’m a veteran Marine corps diagnosed PTSD is there any way to get her trained to be a service dog thank you
I too was given life back by a service dog except the VA helped me zero and I paid for the service dog myself. She has since passed away and I have a new dog in training, I’ll never be without a dog again.
Help with service dog, Vet with PTSD.
It is wonderful to see the VA post an article about service dogs for ptsd. HOWEVER, it is very confusing at the same time. See we got a service dog for my husband and hos disabilities, including and primarily his ptsd. We tried for a year to get the insurance for her approved. It wasn’t until he had a PHYSICAL exam nearly a year later he was finally approved. The VA DOES NOT APPROVE INSURANCE FOR PTSD DOGS! Well that’s what we were told anyways. So how confusing to do an article about how good a service dog is for veterans with PTSD when the VA clearly does not support them!?!?!
See my comments.
Can a 6 month old hurricane rescue puppy be trained to be my service dog. She’s an American Staffordshire. A vet with PTSD and already has the puppy.
Does anyone know where a non-combat veteran – who has PTSD/depression because of other trauma caused while in the service – can get a service dog? Or if we’re even eligible?
I often train them for vets all the time. But I’m in NM. I just have them or guide them in the selection process of finding a perfect pup from a shelter if a dog isn’t already selected. Then training starts.
Why get a service dog if the VA facilities refuse to let you have them at appointments that stress you out. I have a seizure alert dog and have been refused his presence for dental services, my most stressful appointments that set off the events. No one cares tho. I do have PTSD but that doesn’t seem to matter to anyone either. Just because I act strong doesn’t mean I’m not falling apart inside. My service dog has helped me a lot in being able to enter into social activities more but I still spend more time away from people. But hey I’m functional so that’s ok. Have a nice day!
My address on Thailand if you want to send my ID card from your organization.
Ya of course the VA shares stuff that they dont care about. They were forced to start a pilot program to get Veterans with PTSD service animals and they did the minimum for that. The VA said… “result in unintended and negative consequences” for veterans entrusting their well-being to “this unsubstantiated treatment regime.”….. “I would say there are a lot of heartwarming stories that service dogs help, but scientific basis for that claim is lacking,” Dr. Michael Fallon, the V.A.’s chief veterinarian said. “The V.A. is based on evidence-based medicine. We want people to use therapy that has proven value.”….The V.A. doesn’t recognize psychiatric service dogs as an evidence-based therapy for PTSD.
You are wrong Michael. I have a PTSD service dog. The VA DID provide support for my dog in the form of FREE dog insurance. I used a VA form 10-2641, which was processed through my local VA center in Lebanon PA. It is handled by the prosthetics dept and the form is sent to the VHA Chief of Prosthetics in DC. I was approved on November 10, 2022 and I received a welcome packet and insurance card for my dog which I have used to pay the bills at my local veterinarian for my PTSD service dog. Phone Trupanion at 855-482-0163 and fact check me. I have the card and I DO NOT pay vet bills for my PTSD service dog.
I have a dog that wandered up on my porch and immediately was a friend. Hercules is now seven years old. He is a calming influence to me Hercules follows commands and follows hand signals! He is very calm in crowds.
I still don’t have my PTSD service dog, since 2015.
Then why is my service dog for my mental health issues including ptsd not allowed at the v.a. hospital in Salt Lake City?
I have a 4 pound tea cp Yorkie that is the most loving dog I have ever seen. Would love to bring her down to help vets in dsm Iowa. She has never ever snapped at anyone, but she is a little licker. How can I set it up to see vets at the des Moines, Iowa VA hospitals. Thank you and Semper Fi.
I have ms and have a hard time doing things like balance and going out cause I see people stare at the way I move and sometimes I fall down can you help
The VA only seems to care about service dogs for vets if you get one from them. If the dog that you’ve had for years since 10 weeks old, they could give a fck less, and it’s been recently proven. But I still have my dog, no thanks to them.
Funny, the VA pays all the veterinary bills for my PTSD service dog that I got through Canine Companions. I have a dog insurance card from Trupanion and the VA pays all my dog’s vet bills. Feel free to fact me by calling Trupanion at 855-482-0163. Also check with your local VA prosthetics dept and they will process a VA form 10-2641 for free dog insurance.
How about service dogs ? for veterans with bipolar disorder? Data shows these individuals would be well suited.
I have the same issue. My bipolar condition was diagnosed 17 years into my 20 year career, so it’s even considered service connected.
Plus, I have service connected sexual trauma due to sexual harassment.
You’d think a service dog would be considered important for my treatment.
I do have an ESD that is helpful, but I could benefit from a dog with increased capabilities
Hi, my name is Glen I have 100% P&T disability. I also own a 4 year old belgian malinois. Do you guys train and certify per-own dogs?
I know that a service dog(max) has helped me .I’ve had max for going on 4 years,he is now 6 years old,I got him when he was2.
I have a Caucasian Anatolian Shepard mix. She will be 4 years ago in October. She’s obedient and very friendly. However can be overprotective as many animals are w/their owners. My wife and I take her to the stores & is well behaved. We can’t afford another dog so my question is what are the steps to get her trained and certified?
They buy their dogs !
As a former warrior trainer with this Organization, I man begging every Veteran who see’s this to stay away. The corruption within is horrible!!
That’s awesome! Congratulations! I was in the very first class of K9sforwarriors my Service Dog ” Military Millie” changed my life forever. Millie was named by “MOM” who we miss so much. We wish you the very best in your new walk with your new K9, always remember this program will be with you for the rest of your life. The support that K9sforwarriors gives us is awesome. I still talk to ‘MOM” in my prayers…. my Service Dog died this past year of cancer. Military Millie was 15 years old when she past away. I am a new person/warrior because of “MOM”, Brett and this program. Today I am off all of my meds. My PTSD, Anxiety and depression is gone. I am a new warrior due to this program. GOD Bless You All http://www.K9sForWarriors.org/ HOOAH!!! Richard Ruffert
Your organization is saving lives!