As a 3 tour combat veteran, I’ve struggled with PTSD and it’s symptoms for years. The VA’s solution for PTSD was to prescribe medication that made me feel numb and distant, and essentially made me feel like an empty shell of myself. Tired of taking medication, and wanting a change, I decided to look into alternative forms of therapy and was intrigued by service dog therapy. After a quick search I found Working Dogs for Warriors.
The Working Dogs for Warriors organization took me and my dog in and treated us like family from the moment we walked through the door. The support system and fellowship that the organization provides helps me way more than any one-on-one therapy, medication, or group therapy I’ve personally attended. The sense of camaraderie and purpose has helped me heal, broadened my sense of hope, and makes me look forward to giving back or helping another veteran or first responder in need.
Such a family atmosphere. WDFW has provided me with a purpose in helping others as much as I can. The dog training provided during classes has greatly improved our lives as well.
Working Dogs for Warriors is such a wonderful and supportive group. They help first responders and veterans that need help and support from therapy dogs and dog training to paint night classes and bike rides for 9/11 tributes and more. The couple that started this group are the sweetest people and they genuinely care about others. They strive to give back to the community as well and help as many people as possible with events like “A Sound Mind” to help with mental health awareness. They have movie nights and video game nights for the warrior families to keep everyone together in a family atmosphere and provide a positive and safe place for Warriors to go and mingle with friends. I am so blessed and lucky to be a part of this wonderful group of people who are so kind and helpful to everyone they meet.
Working Dogs for Warriors (WDFW) is an amazing organization dedicated to veterans, first responders and their families coping with the effects of PTSD. As a former first responder and someone dealing with PTSD, I can attest that WDFW has brought about positive changes in my life and the lives of others. Their dedication to help the community and its warriors is unsurpassed. They continually network with other non-profits and businesses to broaden their assistance to lend a helping hand and help restore their warriors. WDFW assisted my wife in selecting, training and purchasing my service dog, Sasha (@sasha_warrior_gsd). WDFW has given me hope in some of my darkest moments and I am forever grateful for them. God bless Working Dogs for Warriors and those who support them.
Finding WDFW has been one of the biggest blessing. The organization is what I need in my life, they have made me feel like family the moment I was accepted. I got my GSD Augie and she has been the best thing ever. Training is always so helpful and I know she will be successful and help me in the long run. She is only 6months right now and already able to sense when I might be feeling down so I can only imagine how mush help she will be in the future. And I have WDFW to thank without them I wouldn’t have her and I wouldn’t have a family that is alway there for you and that understand your struggles in life.
I was searching for a way to help cope with ptsd and my mental battle this program was recommended to me and after doing research and joining the program, I have since better learned to cope with my ptsd. They not only provide amazing service for training my service dog but is also a family like no other, always there in a moments notice and always helping this organization is beyond amazing and has shown me that people truly do care about helping.
This organization has done some amazing work for the First Responders and veterans oh, but they also do great work for the community.
A big loving family of people and pups. WDFW is a community of warriors and volunteers tackling the Veteran and First Responder suicide pandemic that takes thousands of warriors annually. Thank you so much Working Dogs For Warriors for all that you do for us.
I am a combat veteran who is suffering from PTSD and depression which hindered me from doing daily functions to go into public areas due to my service connected disabilities. Working Dogs for Warriors has helped my transition into a better life. They have provided me with a service animal and dog training so I can function better in public because of my partner. My life will never be the same once I became a part of WDFW family. My quality of life has changed and it saved my relationship with my family because of it. I am able to smile and have hope when it was all lost.
Working dogs for warriors has been a huge blessing to our family! My husband has struggled with mental health issues that were hard for him to share with anyone being a combat veteran. One day he found this amazing organization that helped him reintegrate into his community, share his thoughts and feelings with veterans and first responders that share the same feelings and stories as he experienced. My husband has found brotherhood, normalcy and hope through this amazing organization. My husband smiles, and carries love, hope and faith in his heart now, something that was difficult for him on a daily basis. He no longer faces mental challenges alone as this organization promotes fellowship, community and outreach. We are forever grateful for the magnificent work they have provided to our family. We love our working dogs for warriors organization and pray that they continue to assist our heroes and bless those they touch.
Respectfully,
The Montoya family
We have a 7 year old German Shepherd and we are 2 weeks in and already we have seen a great improvement. We had tried another training class years ago, but the trainer hit Logan to the point he became traumatized. We are so thankful for this training facility, Mike, and his assistants. Logan has been doing so much better on a leash and following commands. We are looking for additional classes for him and our new puppy.
Our dog, Buddy, was very reactive to other dogs, bicycles and skateboards. To say he would pull and bark aggressively is an understatement. I was looking for dog training and came upon Working Dogs for Warriors. The community training classes have helped us with our dog and the free Sunday training and pack walks are great! I was so frustrated with my dog’s behavior and was ready to give up taking him in public but Michael and Tony have taught us how to work with our dog. Everyone in the program is so welcoming, encouraging and helpful with great tips. Our dog is a work in progress and continues to improve.
The more I have learned about Working Dogs for Warriors, the more impressed I become.
To be able to offer a Service Dog Program to Veterans and First Responders at no cost is amazing. They are not just training dogs but they truly are changing lives.
Working Dogs for Warriors is a great place. As one of its Veterans in its service dog program it has helped. I have learned how to go ask for help and how that im not alone. I have made a family out of being with them for over a year and am always having them as a support system. If you are needing help and want to be around great people this is the place to be. Thank you Working Dogs For Warriors for showing me that there are people out there willing to help Veterans.
Since retiring in 2018, life has thrown us many curveballs. One of the best things to have happened was joining and really investing our time into Working Dogs For Warriors. This group has given me, my family, and my new pup a place to gather, have fun fellowship, and recreate a sense of camaraderie that has been missing since leave the Army. This group really helps me personally as I have been searching for a group of like minded individuals who not only train dogs, but share in their personal interests as well and create friendships that would otherwise be lost. Thanks WDFW!
Working dogs for warriors has become my family over the last two years with what they do for all of us and with the surrounding community. I am proud to be part of such a great group. Thank you for how you have changed my life.
I’m an Iraq War veteran and 100% disabled. I thought I had my disabilities under control until Mike helped me get Butters. Without my warrior family I would still be isolated and without many friends. Our trainings and pack walks really help to make us a family.
I love this organization! They are 100% dedicated to giving back to our communities by supporting our military veterans, by participating in local charities and providing educational outreach programs to our local schools. Thank you WDFW!!
I am so glad I found this organization. It has been a great blessing. I found the family I had been missing with the fellow veterans in the program. And It help me train my hunting dog into being my service dog as well. I can’t tell you how big of a positive impact this has made in my life
This is a great organization. I love the pack walks each Sunday. These have been great for socialization for my pup in these trying times. The walks also include a brief training session, all free of charge.
Working Dogs For Warriors isn't a non-profit, it's a family. For the majority of my adult life, I was an infantryman. It was all I knew, and then one day it was all gone. Transitioning to civilian life proved to be more difficult than I expected. Somedays, I even felt like it was too much. All that changed when I got my service dog. My service dog was trained to not only be well behaved in public, but also to recognize my depression and my anxiety. Athena is more than a pet, more than a service animal, she's my best friend. All of that is a direct result of the training and the camaraderie, we received at Working Dogs for Warriors. The truth of it all is they saved my life. It's that simple.
I joined the pac walks about 2 months ago. I was very nervous because my dog is cray cray and 114 lbs. lol. But we are at a better place now with the 15 minutes of training and the socialization with other dogs is so far so good. My dog Maximus still needs a lot of work but hey we are working on it. The free training is helping us because of the pandemic I’ve been out of work for 10 months.
Thank you
I’m a retired, 100% disabled Marine Corps veteran. When I needed a service dog I turned to Working Dogs For Warriors. Michael Welsh was able to help my Rottweiler (Luna), my Doberman (Nova), and myself. The veterans and first responders in the program are a wonderful family. There is a great group of civilians that help out. The support system is unmatched. The WDFW headquarters is top notch. Semper Fi
