Dog Day: A Day That Changes Lives

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

3 min read

Dog Day is a special day our Veterans never forget. It’s the day they finally get to meet their new Service Dog. The moment they meet their battle buddy, all their fears melt away, and hope begins to take shape.

For a rescue dog, it’s the culmination of months of daily care, specialized training and preparation. It’s the day they fulfill their new purpose: sharing their specialized skills and endless capacity to love.

For a Veteran, it’s a step toward the life they deserve. Some say they feel a rush of emotions before meeting their Service Dogs: nerves, anticipation and hope. They know that when they leave, they’ll have a battle buddy, trained and ready to never leave their side.

"I don’t remember my second child’s first steps, my third child’s first word, you name it,” Toye said. “But I don’t think I’ll ever forget the day I laid eyes on [Bake]."

For us, we get the honor to see the joy, tears and wagging tails when two lives are forever changed.

Your generosity is the vital link between a dog who once needed a second chance and a Veteran who needs the help only a Service Dog can provide. Thank you for continuing to make lifesaving pairings.

Read what Warriors had to say about meeting their Battle Buddy:

When Grace walked up to me, she put one paw on my leg and gave me a kiss. The trainers and volunteers nearly fell over because she was not known to be a kisser. That first night after being teamed up, she woke me up from a nightmare. These two events right from the beginning gave me the trust in the program, allowed me to be more relaxed, and focus on the training.

It seemed like an eternity waiting for them to bring Cindy out to me. When they did, she was a flurry of jumping, twisting delight. I knew we’d be a good fit. She was all in, and so was I. She has changed my life and I’m forever grateful.

I got to sit on the front porch and meet Yankee. When I first saw him, it was exciting, and he was so fluffy. He gave me a bunch of lap hugs and I think he too was excited. For the rest of the day, we got to know each other more.

Meeting Lanny felt like a huge weight off my shoulders. She makes me strive to be the best person for her every day.

Dog Day was a mixed bag of anxiety, excitement, relief, and a feeling of hope. I was one of four ladies, and I could hear each fall instantly in love with their dog and cry with excitement. I could hear the cheers from the team and their excitement about what the future would hold for each of us. Then, it was my turn, and I saw this adorable, spunky, energetic black lab named Hope. I knew she was going to give me hope and that we were going to have amazing adventures together. I knew my world and life were about to change for the better.