Checking in with One of K9s For Warriors First San Antonio Graduates

Petco Love has been instrumental in helping K9s For Warriors save Veterans and rescue dogs.

Our partnership started in 2019 with a generous $2M Petco Love grant that allowed us to expand our operations to the Lone Star state. In late 2021, we opened the Petco Love K9s Center in San Antonio. It’s home to our Texas dog rescue and training program as well as our monthly Texas Warrior graduation ceremony.

2023 Golf Tournament Highlights

Thank you to all of our supporters. We hope you enjoyed our 2nd Annual Golf tournament, contests, and company of fellow veteran supporters.

Living with PTSD: 3 Warriors’ Stories of Hope & Healing

When we think of wounds, we often envision physical injuries—especially when it involves veterans.

But there is an invisible wound that affects millions of people worldwide: post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD is a complex, debilitating mental health condition that develops after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event.

PTSD can look different in everyone. For Warriors Quinton, Joe, and Ashley, this rings true.

Golf Leads Veteran to Service Dog

For Army veteran Eden, the golf course means safety.

After years of suffering in silence with an undiagnosed traumatic brain injury, he finally finds peace as his club connects with the ball — his Service Dog resting by his side.

Letter to Waiting Warriors

“Dear waiting Warrior,

You have so much ahead of you: so much love, compassion, and companionship, tied to you by the single leather leash that will hold your soul forever.”

Hannah, a K9 caretaker, knows the true healing power of dogs better than most. She’s seen it time and time again. She’s seen Service Dogs save veterans’ lives.

She Stole My Husband’s Heart

I think I’m pretty lucky.

I get to wake up every morning, roll over and see my adoring husband, Josh, snuggled up to a cute, chubby blonde named Cabo.

But don’t worry – Cabo is his Service Dog, and she has changed his life, and mine, in ways I still don’t understand.

Day in the Life of a K9 Caretaker

It’s 4:30 in the morning, and the sun hasn’t risen yet. Somewhere a K9 caretaker is turning their alarm off as they get out of bed to prepare for their morning shift.

They have an important job to do: caring for a dog that’s going to save a life.

Couldn’t Stop Running

“Have you seen Forest Gump?” asked 17-year U.S Marine Corps veteran Keith Hudson.

“It felt like I was running and running, and I couldn’t stop.”

14 jobs. Three divorces. Financial turmoil.

Returning to civilian life was not easy.

Shelter to Service Dog

The shelter was packed. Deep, caramel eyes peer up distrustfully from behind the gate of his enclosure. Unsure of his new visitors.

Barks, high and low, echo off the walls of Lake City Humane Society — bouncing back and forth like ping pong balls. His brown ears twitch this way and that, white-patched snoot sniffing the air.

Weeks ago, he’d been stretched out on a sofa, sneaking stray pieces of popcorn off the floor. How had he ended up here?

Soldier On

Walk into Army veteran Adam Werner’s house, and you’ll find neon post-it notes plastered over every empty surface, all scribbled with reminders to do this and that — remove clothes from washer, pick up kids from soccer practice, Dr. appointment @ 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

He forgets to do it if he doesn’t write it down.

“Living with a traumatic brain injury is…frustrating,” Werner said.