National nonprofit K9s For Warriors will celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2026 and will be THE PLAYERS Charity of the Day for Friday, March 13.
Alaina Bundy, public relations manager at K9s For Warriors, recently shared the nonprofit’s incredible story and information about its programs and the healing power of dogs.
K9s For Warriors was started in 2011 by Shari Duval.
“She believed in the healing power of dogs, and her vision paved the way for K9s For Warriors to become the nation’s leading provider of highly-trained service dogs to military veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma,” Bundy said.
Duval started the nonprofit with her own money and watched as it grew to serve veterans across the country. Sadly, Duval passed away in February 2021 after a courageous battle with cancer, but her mission to save the lives of veterans and rescue dogs across the country continues today. K9s For Warriors has saved the lives of more than 1,200 veterans and rescued more than 2,500 dogs.
The nonprofit has three thriving programs: Warrior & Service Dog Program, Station Dog Program and Adoptable Dog Program.
The Warrior & Service Dog Program provides highly trained service dogs to veterans at no financial cost. Veterans participate in an 18-day training program to learn how to use their service dogs and bond with them. Once the veterans graduate from the program, the nonprofit offers support and check-ins along with any additional resources that they might need. The majority of service dogs are rescues, and K9s For Warriors gives them a second chance at life.
The Station Dog Program partners with law enforcement and first responder agencies to donate trained therapy dogs. They provide emotional support to police officers, firefighters, dispatchers victims and others in this line of service.
“They are made up of retired service dogs or dogs that have received extensive training from our professional trainers but were not quite cut out to be service dogs,” Bundy said.
There is no financial cost to receiving them.
Bundy explained that many of the dogs do become service dogs, but some don’t meet the rigorous standards. Instead, they become part of the Adoptable Dogs Program.
“Adoptable dogs are available to anyone in the community and can access the application form on our website,” Bundy said. That site is https://k9sforwarriors.org/adoptable-dogs.
Duffield Veterinary Clinic opened in January of 2026 and has helped service dogs by providing the care they need on campus. This care includes an on-site veterinarian who is able to deliver diagnostic, surgical and preventative care more quickly and efficiently.
“Ultimately, this ensures every dog receives the highest standard of care while allowing us to serve more Veterans in need,” Bundy explained.
For the 15th anniversary, K9s For Warriors will hold 11 events in cities across the country to commemorate the lives transformed. At each event, warriors will share their testimonials. There will be guest speakers and a delicious dinner with an open bar. The celebration will also give more information on how to support K9s For Warriors’ life-saving mission. The celebration at the Shari Duval Campus in Ponte Vedra will take place on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
K9s For Warriors helps restore hope, independence and purpose to those who have sacrificed much. The nonprofit has plans to expand and enhance its programs, but their commitment to ensure that every veteran who needs a service dog has one remains the same.
“Roughly 20 veterans die by suicide every day, and our work is not done until 20 a day becomes zero a day,” Bundy said.
Bundy said there are many ways to support K9s For Warriors.
“Financial contributions directly fund the training, veterinary care and lifelong support provided to both veterans and their service dogs. Community members can also get involved by volunteering their time, fostering future service dogs or helping raise awareness about the mission,” she said.
More information can be found on their website, https://k9sforwarriors.org.
