Formation | 2010 |
---|---|
Founder | Shari Duval |
Type | 501(C)(3) |
Focus | Alternate therapy for helping veterans cope with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Animal welfare |
Location |
|
Executive Director | Rory Diamond[1] |
Budget | $2.9 million[2] |
Staff | 44[1] |
Volunteers | 500+[1] |
Website | www.k9sforwarriors.org |
K9s For Warriors is an American charity and veterans service organization that provides service dogs to veterans.[3] 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.[2]
History[]
K9s For Warriors was founded in 2011 by Shari Duval who was inspired by her son, Brett Simon,[4] a contractor who returned from two tours in Iraq and was suffering from severe post-traumatic stress.[5]
Program[]
K9s For Warriors trains and evaluates rescued dogs before providing them to veterans as service dogs for no charge.[6] 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.[5] As of April, 2017, K9s For warriors has provided service dogs to over 300 combat veterans.[7] 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 .[8]
Media coverage[]
K9s For Warriors' alternate therapy using service dogs has been appreciated by several veterans[5][9][10] and has been covered extensively in mainstream media.[11][12][13]
In September 2015, a K9s for Warriors' service dog named Axel provided to Captain Jason Haag,[11] a Marine veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, was denied entry into an American Airlines flight.[14] 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.[15][16] The incident received considerable attention in the news and social media.
In November 2015, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton was nominated for the NFL's "Salute to Service" award[17] for his work with K9s for Warriors.[18]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "K9s for Warriors opens expansive new Nocatee home ready to help veterans for free". Jacksonville. 8 July 2015. http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-07-08/story/k9s-warriors-opens-expansive-new-nocatee-home-ready-help-veterans-free. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "K9s for Warriors visits students at FSDB". The St. Augustine Record. 20 November 2015. http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2015-11-20/k9s-warriors-visits-students-fsdb. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ "Rusty’s Legacy joins forces with K9s for Warriors". The McDowell News. 10 November 2015. http://www.mcdowellnews.com/news/rusty-s-legacy-joins-forces-with-k-s-for-warriors/article_3542e088-87f1-11e5-a474-e73393641611.html. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ "Warrior with PTSD explains fear of St. Augustine". First Coast News. 23 April 2015. http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/life/people/2015/04/23/veterans-operation-orion-rescue-dogs-k9s-for-warriors/26259639/. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Spared from the kennel: These rescue dogs now help vets". Army Times. 9 May 2015. http://www.armytimes.com/story/veterans/2015/05/09/k9s-for-warriors-expands/70948968/. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ "Campaign aims to stop veteran suicide epidemic". News4Jax. 7 February 2015. http://www.news4jax.com/news/campaign-aims-to-stop-veteran-suicide-epidemic/31139492. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ "Congrats to K9s for Warriors on 300- Plus Service Dog Teams!". LuckyPup. 10 May 2017. https://www.luckypuppymag.com/congrats-to-k9s-for-warriors-on-300-plus-service-dog-teams/. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
- ↑ "Operation Orion is in full swing". First Coast News. 11 June 2014. http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/nation/military/2014/06/02/operation-orion-fundraise/9868389/. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ "Extraordinary Ordinaries: Veteran, dog paired through K9s for Warriors". Fox13. 14 October 2015. http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/32960366-story. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ "Service dog turns life around for PTSD mom and autistic son". First Coast News. 11 November 2015. http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/local/outreach/k9s-for-warriors/2015/11/11/rescue-dogs-ptsd-veterans-dogs-warriors-k9s-for-warriors/75594722/. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "A soldier's battle at home". CNN. 22 May 2015. http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/19/us/cnn-sotu-ptsd-veterans-affairs-jason-haag/. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ "K9s for Warriors uses dogs to reintroduce soldiers to society". Orlando Weekly. 18 February 2015. http://www.orlandoweekly.com/orlando/k9s-for-warriors-uses-dogs-to-reintroduce-soldiers-to-society/Content?oid=2360953. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ "K9s For Warriors Aims To Rescue 10 Dogs To Help Veterans With PTSD In Summer Fundraiser". Huffington Post. 23 July 2013. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/23/k9s-for-warriors_n_3606146.html. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ "Veteran, service dog have trouble boarding flight". USA Today. 23 September 2015. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/09/22/veteran-service-dog-have-trouble-boarding-flight/72620614/. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ "Marine veteran, ‘Service Dog of the Year’ denied access to airline". KFOR. 23 September 2015. http://kfor.com/2015/09/23/marine-veteran-service-dog-of-the-year-denied-access-to-airline/. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ "Service Dog of the Year’ denied entry on American Airlines flight". Fox59. 23 September 2015. http://fox59.com/2015/09/23/service-dog-of-the-year-denied-entry-on-american-airlines-flight/. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ "Salute to Service month in NFL includes award". Associated Press. 6 November 2015. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/4727d2cbdeea464c98026f177e2a0d72/salute-service-month-nfl-includes-award. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ↑ "New Orleans Saints nominate Sean Payton for 'Salute to Service' award". The Times-Picayune. 6 November 2015. http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2015/11/sean_payton_is_the_saints_nomi.html. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
External links[]
The original article can be found at K9s for Warriors and the edit history here.