This milestone is on top of the more than 1,000 pairings since K9s For Warriors started serving Veterans in 2011.
Helotes, Texas (July 31, 2025) – K9s For Warriors celebrated a remarkable milestone this summer. With the help of generous donors, supporters and staff, the 100th Warrior graduated with a Service Dog from the K9s For Warriors Texas campus.
The Warrior Ranch, north of San Antonio, serves as a facility for Warriors to train and bond with their new Service Dogs. Since its opening in 2022, K9s For Warriors has remained committed to pairing Veterans in need with Service Dogs.
Veteran Daniel became the 100th Warrior to graduate with a Service Dog from the Warrior Ranch. After more than three years in the United States Air Force, Daniel found himself struggling to enjoy the things that he once loved. He then came across K9s For Warriors online and decided to apply for a Service Dog. K9s For Warriors paired Daniel with Dandy, a dog rescued from the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The two formed an unwavering bond and are looking forward to the journey ahead.
“Having a Service Dog will help me deal with my PTSD symptoms and add more joy to my life,” Daniel said. “I hope by having a dog to care for and bond with, I can focus on the future rather than the past.”
K9s For Warriors hosted a celebration for the 100 Warriors who graduated from Texas. 14 Warrior graduates returned to campus with their Service Dogs. Navy Veteran and Texas Warrior graduate Chris shared his story about his journey with his Service Dog, Astro.
“I am broken, but look at those two letters in the middle. I am okay,” said Chris. “To my fellow Warriors here today who may have felt they were too broken, I hope you too are now okay.”
“100 Warriors at our Texas Ranch is a momentous feat and something worth celebrating,” said Daniel Bean, CEO of K9s For Warriors. “Let us continue the great work that has led us here and lead us to helping our next 100 Warriors. With the help of our generous supporters and dedicated staff, K9s For Warriors can continue saving lives at both ends of the leash.”
More than 100 K9s For Warriors supporters were in attendance to celebrate the milestone graduation. K9s For Warriors would like to congratulate our 100 Warriors who graduated from Texas and the over 1,000 graduates from the program. We look forward to serving even more Warriors and rescue dogs in the future.
About K9s For Warriors
Determined to end Veteran suicide, K9s For Warriors is the leading nonprofit organization that provides trained Service Dogs to military Veterans nationwide suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and/or military sexual trauma — at no financial cost to the Veteran. Backed by groundbreaking scientific research from the University of Arizona’s OHAIRE Lab, the program demonstrates how Service Dogs can help mitigate symptoms of PTSD while simultaneously restoring confidence and independence. Founded in 2011 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, K9s For Warriors is committed to saving lives at both ends of the leash by primarily rescuing dogs and pairing them with Veterans in need. The organization is also dedicated to raising awareness about Veterans’ mental health and driving policy-level reform. To date, K9s has paired more than 1,000 Veterans with life-changing Service Dogs and rescued more than 2,000 dogs.
Find more information at www.k9sforwarriors.org | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
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Media Contact:
Carly Kramer
ckramer@k9sforwarriors.org