K9s For Warriors (K9s) was founded 15 years ago by a mother determined to help her son heal from PTSD. What began as a personal mission has grown into a national model for Veteran recovery. Today, the Warrior/Service Dog Pairing Program (W/SDPP) is our foundational program, a proven, life-changing pathway for Veterans living with the invisible wounds of military service.

Through the W/SDPP, K9s pairs psychiatric Service Dogs, 60–80% of whom are rescues, with Veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or military sexual trauma (MST).

With campuses in Florida & Texas, the program is delivered via three integrated phases: Acceptance and Preparation, Residential Training, and Lifelong Wraparound Services. Once accepted into the program, Warriors receive individualized preparation and regular check-ins to remove practical barriers like housing instability, financial stress, job concerns, or family issues. An embedded case manager provides this support while an embedded clinician conducts VA-approved suicide risk evaluations and builds mental health readiness. Together with K9s’ Warrior-facing staff, these professionals establish stability and trust prior to residential training.

During the three-week residential phase, each Warrior is thoughtfully matched with a Service Dog whose temperament and skills align with their needs. Warrior and dog train as a team, gradually re-engaging with daily life and public settings while learning to manage stress and rebuild confidence. Service Dogs are trained to interrupt anxiety, provide grounding, create space in crowds, and support emotional regulation. Equally important, the bond restores routine, responsibility, and connection, helping Veterans re-engage with family, work, and community life.

K9s also addresses the national crisis of abandoned dogs. Most of our Service Dogs are rescues, and no dog is ever returned to a shelter.

K9s remains connected to every team for life, offering ongoing check-ins, recertification, peer support, and crisis assistance. This long-term commitment has contributed to a documented suicide mortality rate of under 1% among more than 1,200 graduates.

The K9s model works because it directly addresses how trauma impacts the brain. PTSD can trap Veterans in “survival mode,” driven by avoidance that prevents the brain from relearning safety. K9s applies principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) throughout training. With the steady presence of a Service Dog and structured coping tools, Warriors reduce avoidance, regulate emotions, challenge fear-based thinking, restore routine and purpose, and build confidence through incremental success. K9s is equally intentional about avoiding dependence. The goal is personal agency, skills that are internalized, confidence that grows over time, and support that remains available for life.