4 Paws 4 Patriots trains medical/psychiatric service dogs to change the lives of disabled veterans and their families.
To help those who have served our country honorably live with dignity and independence. The service dog programs of Americas VetDogs were created to provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence to United States veterans active duty service members and first responders with disabilities allowing them to once again live with pride and self reliance. Not only does a service dog provide support with daily activities it provides the motivation to tackle every day challenges.
Our Mission
Our Vision
Founder’s Story
November 2001 I was serving in the U.S. Air Force Security Forces, where I endured several traumatic incidents that, at the time, did not seem to affect my relationships with my family, friends, and colleagues. However, a short time after my first deployment, things began to change; a life-threatening situation occurred during the same period where I lost two friends in my unit due to suicide. All of a sudden, I found myself acting violently towards my family, friends, and myself.
During this period, our family ended up getting a rescued pit bull named Cheyenne, who saw so many of my outbursts. Ultimately things got worse before they got better, and I began contemplating suicide because I just wanted the pain to end. In the end, it was Cheyenne and her presence that took my focus off the pain and made me reconsider living.
Immediately I felt so relieved, like someone had taken a 10,000-pound weight off my chest. My family and friends noticed a significant change in my behavior – a reduced number of outbursts, a better attitude, and my decision not to commit suicide – all because of this little pit bull puppy. Cheyenne gave me a purpose and someone else to live and care for.
Following these incidents, I was diagnosed by the Department of Veterans Affairs with having Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression.
In 2009, I set out on a mission to share my personal struggles and how this new companion had helped me overcome them, with fellow military Veterans, active duty military, law enforcement, first responders, Gold Star families, those who have PTSD, TBI (traumatic Brain Injury) or Military Sexual Trauma (MST.) My hope and prayer is that Companions for Heroes (C4H) will aid them in their recovery and, at the same time, save our nation’s shelter and rescue animals. This is two lives served.
Today I live with my son, Dax, and daughter, Mabel, along with our rescued Service Dog Darby.
Freedom Fidos trains shelter dogs to be task-trained service dogs for heroes at no cost to the veterans.
Mission is to give veterans and active military a second chance at life by honoring and empowering those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Military Sexual Trauma through the experience of training and caring for their own service dog.
| Southeastern Guide Dogs transforms lives by creating and nuturing extraordinary partnerships between people with dogs. They create elite working dogs and provide life-changing services for people with vision loss, veterans with disabilities, and children with significant challenges such as vision loss or loss of a parent in the military. |
The No Veteran Left Behind Program allows disabled heroes who are able to help train their own service dog. They are matched with a dog from a local shelter or if they own a dog, after an evaluation, they might be able to train their own dog.