From stray to service partner

From stray to service partner


K9s for Warriors is the country’s largest source of service dogs for U.S. veterans with disabilities. But there’s more to the story than that.

The dogs start as shelter animals, strays given a new lease on life by being trained for service. Training takes place in Florida, near Jacksonville. But dogs come from other places too, including San Antonio, Texas. Each year, San Antonio takes in about 30 thousand stray dogs and cats. In 2011, only 32 percent of those animals found homes. But that rate has soared to a whopping 92 percent, due — in great part — to endeavors like K9s for Warriors.

After training, service dogs go to post-9/11 veterans who have PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, impaired mobility or issues resulting from sexual abuse.

From there, the bond created is just another part of this win-win scenario.

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