RFRescue For Ptsd
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About Rescue For Ptsd
A shelter or abandoned dog can become a trained psychiatric service dog, and a veteran can receive that support at no cost. Rescue For Ptsd provides the medical care, training, matching, transition support, and follow-up needed to help restore emotional and physical independence. It also helps veterans who already have dogs train as service teams through monthly group classes.
Rescue For Ptsd gives rescued dogs a path into service work while helping military veterans and first responders living with PTSD or other challenges. Veterans who already have dogs can join a monthly training program, and graduated teams continue receiving check-ins and support as part of the Rescue Family.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Rescue-Trained Service Dogs
The organization adopts shelter, rescue, owner-surrendered, and abandoned dogs, provides medical care and training, and matches them with military veterans and first responders living with PTSD and other challenges. Veterans receive fully trained service dogs at no cost.
Monthly Group Training Program
Monthly classes help veterans who already have dogs train as service dog teams. The program has four skill levels and includes approximately five hours of training per monthly class.
Service Dog Training and Graduation
Dogs receive praise-based basic and advanced obedience training, public-access preparation, task-oriented training, and training tailored to the needs of their veteran partners. Teams complete coursework and tests including the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test and Public Access Test.
Veteran and Service Dog Team Support
After adoption, veteran and service dog teams remain part of the Rescue Family and receive check-ins at one month, three months, six months, and annually, along with assistance for further training needs and dog health records.
Therapy and Demonstration Dog Program
Some dogs serve as therapy or demonstration dogs. Therapy teams may visit senior living centers, schools, and veteran facilities, while demonstration dogs help train new service dog recruits.
Foster Care for Future Service Dogs
Foster volunteers provide dogs with safe housing, daily exercise, prescribed training, veterinary transportation, medication administration, and regular communication with the Rescue Team while the dogs prepare for service.
About this work
Mission
The Rescue for PTSD adopts and trains shelter and rescue dogs to become psychiatric service dog partners for military veterans living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, supporting the restoration of their emotional and physical independence.
Who they serve
Military veterans and first responders living with PTSD or other challenges that service dogs can support. The organization also rescues and prepares shelter and abandoned dogs for service and therapy roles.
Their impact
- Hailey and Jason graduated as a Veteran/Service Dog team in September 2019.
- Daisy and Jerry graduated on March 26, 2022.
- Inde and Alisha graduated on June 18, 2022.
- The organization reports that Honor reduced one veteran’s blood pressure to a 20-year low and diminished anger and nightmares.
How your donation helps
- Adopting shelter and rescue dogs
- Veterinary care, immunizations, spaying and neutering, grooming, food, medication, and special diets
- Training materials such as leashes, collars, and place beds
- Full service dog training, transition training, and team graduation
- Support for veteran and service dog teams after graduation
- Fencing and other safety needs for veterans’ homes
- Food and care for foster dogs
Need help?
How someone in need can access Rescue For Ptsd’s services.
Veterans living with PTSD who believe a psychiatric service dog could improve their quality of life can complete the Introductory Application Form on the organization’s veterans page. A Rescue for PTSD team member will then contact the applicant to discuss a potential partnership. Veterans and people who know a veteran who may benefit can also contact info@rescueforptsd.org or 346-267-8882. The organization’s veterans page states that applications were temporarily not being accepted because of an extensive waiting list.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
“When Bear came into my life, I found the strength to go out in public and make meaningful and positive interactions with people in the community around me. I felt human again.”, Matthew
“Having Daisy with me has enabled me to get out of the house again. Even if it is just for a walk, I feel like I’ve regained an important part of my life.”, Jerry
“This organization has given me a reason to smile, laugh, and live again without fear.”, Alisha
“Honor has given me my life back. She has reduced my B/P to a 20 year low. My anger and nightmares have diminished significantly.”, Honor’s veteran partner
“I didn’t realize how much of an impact a service dog could have on improving my quality of life until Apollo came into my life.”, Apollo’s veteran partner
“Major has made an enormous impact on my day to day life. He provides so much love and support to me. He greatly helps reduce my anxiety, depression, and PTSD every single day.”, Major’s veteran partner
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Rescue For Ptsd has shared.
Current needs
- Temporary foster homes for future service dogs
- Sponsors for veteran and service dog teams
- Donations for dog medical care, training, food, and equipment
- Needed items for dogs and veterans through the organization’s Amazon wish list
- Support for post-graduation food, special diets, and home safety needs
Volunteer opportunities
- Foster future service dogs and provide daily exercise, prescribed training, transportation, and care
- Support weekly training meetings and communication with the Rescue Team as a foster
- Help socialize and train service dogs through therapy, demonstration, or community activities
- Assist veterans and service dog teams through monthly group classes and ongoing check-ins
Recognition & press
Awards & recognition
- American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen testing for service dogs
- American Kennel Club S.T.A.R. Puppy testing for puppies
Press & mentions
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How are dogs prepared for service work?
Dogs receive medical care and foundational obedience training before moving into public-access preparation and task-oriented work. Rescue For Ptsd uses praise-based training and tailors additional tasks to the needs of each veteran partner.
Does a veteran pay for a service dog?
No. Veterans and their families are not charged for the dog, healthcare, training, transition, or graduation costs.
Can a veteran use their own dog in the program?
Yes. The Monthly Group Training Program helps veterans train with dogs they already have through monthly classes and four progressive skill levels.
What happens after a veteran adopts a service dog?
The veteran and dog remain part of the Rescue Family. Check-ins take place at one month, three months, six months, and annually, with help available for further training needs and dog health records.
How can someone foster a future service dog?
Prospective fosters can contact info@rescueforptsd.org for an application and more information. Foster care includes providing a safe home, daily exercise, prescribed training, veterinary transportation, medication administration, and regular communication with the organization.
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