Your Time Can Save the Lives of Veterans and K9s
Volunteering is vital to the success of the K9s For Warriors program. The support of our volunteers enables us to further our mission to end veteran suicide by providing Service Dogs to military personnel suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma.
Volunteer Ambassadors
Volunteer ambassadors educating others about our program is vital to our mission. K9s For Warriors will train you to be able to effectively communicate the importance of our noble cause.
Cooking For Warriors
If you are passionate about cooking and our mission, you are ideal for preparing home-cooked meals for our Warriors. You can help support our Warriors by providing them with a true home away from home experience.
Dog Volunteer Programs
If you love dogs and are looking for a way to give back, look no further. We are searching for volunteers who can help us give prospective Service Dogs-in-training a jump start into the program. Whether you can commit to a weekend, a few months, or a year, we’d love your help. Also, you don’t have to worry about buying food, a leash, a crate, training classes or medical expenses, because K9s For Warriors takes care of all that. The only responsibility you will have is to provide love and a nurturing environment for a veteran’s future battle buddy.
Taking part in the K9s For Warriors dog volunteer program gives you an opportunity to get involved with our mission.
Not sure which opportunity is right for you? Below are details & requirements for each option for you to carefully consider:
Puppy Raiser
This provides a longer-term opportunity to raise a puppy, typically ranging in age from eight weeks to 16 months old. Volunteers must be able to supervise the puppy throughout the day, teaching them manners and basic skills. They’ll also be tasked with providing the puppy with age-appropriate socialization opportunities outside of the home.
Requirements to be a Puppy Raiser volunteer include:
- Be at least 18 years old *Minors are accepted with a parent as a co-applicant.
- Live within 50 miles of K9s For Warriors National Headquarters in Ponte Vedra, Fla.
- Have regular access to a car
- Attend human-only classes with K9s trainers to ensure that the dog you’re raising is trained in a manner consistent with K9s For Warriors’ program
- Attend monthly obedience classes with K9s trainers
- Provide a safe environment for respective dogs being raised
- Provide appropriate socialization opportunities (i.e. public places)
- Agree to return the dog upon request
Puppy Sitter
Only have a few days to help out? Our sitters are utilized through an on-call basis for a variety of reasons when we need to place a Service Dog-in-training for a few days.
Requirements to be a sitter volunteer include:
- Be at least 18 years old *Minors are accepted with a parent as a co-applicant.
- Live within 50 miles of K9s For Warriors National Headquarters in Ponte Vedra, Fla.
- Have regular access to a car
- Attend human-only classes with K9s trainers to ensure that the dog you’re raising is trained in a manner consistent with K9s For Warriors’ program
- Provide a safe environment for respective dogs being raised
- Agree to return the dog upon request
Dog Foster
We are in need of short-term dog fosters typically lasting from one to six months. These short-term fosters can include: shelter rescue dogs and dogs recovering from medical procedures. Short-term fostering helps us to learn more about the dog in preparation for their advancement into training to become a Service Dog.
Requirements to be a shelter dog foster volunteer include:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Live within 50 miles of K9s For Warriors campuses (Ponte Vedra, Fla., San Antonio, Tx., Phoenix, Az.)
- Have regular access to a car
- Attend human-only classes to ensure that the dog you’re fostering is trained in a manner consistent with K9s For Warriors’ program
- Attend monthly obedience classes
- Provide a safe environment for respective dogs being fostered
- Agree to return the dog upon request
Student Leader Program
In 2020, K9s For Warriors launched K9s For Warriors Student Leaders. Our goal was to teach leadership and other professional skills to local high school students while leveraging their passion and talents for the benefit of our organization, and ultimately of those we serve. We designed an opportunity that includes exclusive volunteer opportunities, hands-on leadership training, collaboration among students from different schools, and special benefits and recognition for participants. All of this happens during monthly meetings which are hosted throughout the school year at our National Headquarters in Ponte Vedra, FL.
During the 2022-23 school year, we are introducing the K9s For Warriors Student Leaders scholarship. With this added perk, we will offer $5,000 in scholarship funds to deserving Student Leaders.
Membership Benefits:
- Learn more about K9s For Warriors and help serve our two-fold mission by raising funds, volunteering, and spreading awareness. Your efforts will provide hope for military service members who are struggling with trauma and shelter dogs who need a second chance.
- Include membership as a K9s For Warriors Student Leader on your résumé
- Grow professional skills such as leadership, teamwork, networking, public speaking, fundraising, strategizing, and problem solving
- At K9s For Warriors, we are passionate about the success and professional development of our Student Leaders. We will happily write college recommendation letters for active Student Leaders who finish the year in good standing. We will also be available to our current and past Student Leaders to assist with résumé writing, interview skills, and networking connections.
- You will receive hands-on education and mentorship from K9s For Warriors staff
- This will be a fun and unique opportunity! The year-long program includes fun activities and social events.
- Networking. You will meet several motivated students from different schools and work together to plan your events.
- Earn volunteer hours.
- Standout Student Leaders will be awarded scholarship funds, with a total of $5,000 being awarded each year.
