We welcome SDiTs Hardy and Moon to MK9s Service Dogs. Thank you Project2Heal for donating these puppies who will change two veterans’ lives.
The Need – With an estimated 20 veteran suicides a day, there is a strong need to provide alternative treatments for veterans with physical and mental health challenges. However, the number of trained service dogs is limited due to the costs typically exceeding $28,000 per dog.
The MK9s Service Dog Solution – MK9s seeks to provide highly trained service dogs tailored to meet specific veteran needs at no cost to the qualified and deserving veteran. Costs are kept to a minimum by a dedicated all volunteer force who raise and train the puppies for free. Costs are therefore limited to purchasing the puppies, feeding and veterinary care during the training period.
MK9s Service Dog’s Unique Approach – MK9s Service Dogs maximizes the veteran’s experience capitalizing on the 18 months the puppies are in training to build a strong veteran – service dog team. By identifying the veteran first and getting the right dog for them, the veteran participates in the puppy’s training experience providing them immediate hope of a better future and plenty of critical bonding time. Puppies are found to match the specific temperament and likely physical capabilities needed to provide the support the veteran needs. With the veteran identified, training for the puppy can be tailored to emphasize those skills their veteran will need. MK9s Service Dogs purposefully adopted this approach to overcome the challenges of programs which train the service dogs then try to find the right veteran thereby forgoing 18 months of critical emotional support for the veterans and only offering limited veteran – service dog team training.
The founder of MK9s Service Dogs has over 17 years of experience working with service dogs as a raiser and trainer and is a Certified Service Dog Trainer recognized by the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP). Our team of professional trainers set aside valuable time from their dog training businesses to give back to those who have served our great nation. A majority of our volunteer canine mentors and support staff come with either strong military backgrounds or many years of experience in the service dog raising and training environment.
Service Dog Beck serving his veteran.
How You Can Help –
- Share our information with a veteran in need
- Sponsor our efforts with a donation – get more information by clicking here!
- Volunteer to work with our service dogs
- Volunteer your professional skills to help with marketing, sponsorships, communications, etc.
- Donate supplies needed to raise and train our puppies
- Host a fundraising event
- Have another idea? Contact us!
Contact Us –
We are looking forward to hearing from you. Please feel free to send us a note using the form below or by emailing us at mk9servicedogs@gmail.com.
We will get back to you as soon as possible.
The MK9s Service Dog Team Northern Virginia
MK9s Service Dogs is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity | Tax ID# 84-1899696