On Thursday, January 23, 2020, K9s For Warriors, the nation’s largest provider of service dogs for disabled American veterans, graduated its 600th warrior-K9 team at a ceremony at Camp K9 in Ponte Vedra. Included in the graduation was Lucky – a service dog sponsored by Troopers Assisting Troops. This is TAT’s 10th anniversary sponsoring service dogs.
K9s For Warriors is a national nonprofit that takes eligible shelter dogs and trains them to be service dogs to mitigate symptoms of PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, and/or Military Sexual Trauma for post-9/11 service members and veterans. It operates from two facilities in North Florida that procure and train the canines, pair them with an incoming veteran, then train the veteran and canine pair together. After three weeks with his or her new service dog, the veteran has learned how to reintegrate into society and, most importantly, reduce suicidal ideation.