Veterans and shelter pets healing together

BJ, a struggling Air Force veteran with nearly two decades of military service, walked into a local shelter partner of Pets for Patriots on her darkest day, feeling it would be her last on Earth. She entered the shelter, where she also volunteered, with no intention of adopting a dog but seeking a final sense of closure. Then fate intervened. As BJ watched, a woman brought in a litter of puppies, including one with two partially formed front legs. His name was Thunder, and something about him stirred BJ’s heart. She decided to foster him, which would ultimately save her life.

BJ recalls, "I came home and held Thunder up by my face. I said, ‘You’re good enough just the way you are.’” In that moment, BJ realized that Thunder’s struggles mirrored her own. As she embraced him, she recognized that her life had value. Thunder wasn’t going anywhere; he was home. And with him, BJ found a new reason to live.

[Faces of No-Kill: 3-legged dog earns her military stripes]

For BJ and thousands of veterans like her, animals offer more than companionship — they are lifelines, providing unconditional love, connection, and a renewed will to survive.

Best Friends has more than 5,000 network partners, and in honor of Veterans Day, we're highlighting a few who focus on working with veterans and pets together. Organizations like K9s For Warriors, Working Dogs for Vets, and Pets for Patriots are dedicated to this mission, bringing together veterans and shelter animals in partnerships that transform — and save — lives. These groups help veterans find hope, independence, and purpose alongside their four-legged friends through service dog training, adoption support, and compassionate services.

K9s For Warriors has one driving purpose: saving canine and human lives. Founded with the mission to provide service dogs to veterans who have PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or military sexual trauma, the organization seeks to give veterans back their lives. The pairing process is grounded in scientific research that shows the profound benefits service dogs provide to those living with debilitating mental health conditions.

The organization procures most of its dogs from shelters, giving them a second chance at life while helping to mitigate the mental health crisis faced by America’s veterans. K9s For Warriors is currently the largest national service dog provider for veterans. Ultimately, human and animal lives are at stake. Its goal is always to save as many as possible.

Veterans paired with a service dog through K9s For Warriors frequently report dramatic life changes. They reconnect with their families, reduce or eliminate medications, and even pursue new opportunities in education or work. The organization’s mantra, “return to life with dignity and independence,” reflects the deep, transformative bond between each warrior and their dog. This connection allows both to overcome their past traumas.

Working Dogs for Vets, based in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, takes a unique approach to pairing veterans with service dogs by empowering them to train their dogs through the No Veteran Left Behind program. This innovative model ensures veterans can develop a deep bond with their dogs while equipping them with essential training skills. Working Dogs for Vets supports veterans in all stages of training, offering workshops, virtual guidance, and mentoring from certified trainers.

Working Dogs for Vets also provides fully trained service dogs through its in-house program for veterans with more severe disabilities. This tailored service addresses the needs of veterans who cannot complete a training program independently. With additional initiatives like the prison program, where inmates train service dogs, and the ambassador program, which supports veterans and their dogs through in-home visits and evaluations, Working Dogs for Vets offers multiple pathways for veterans to regain independence.

At the core of their mission is the belief that service dogs can help veterans reclaim their lives. Founder Kenneth Knabenshue says, "Every veteran we help, every shelter dog we save — each pairing saves lives on both ends of the leash."

Pets for Patriots brings a unique perspective to the relationship between veterans and animals, focusing on companion pet adoption rather than service dog training. Its mission is simple yet powerful: to connect veterans and military families with the most overlooked shelter animals. Pets for Patriots targets animals often passed over for adoption, such as senior pets or those with special needs, matching them with veterans across all service branches, from World War II to active-duty personnel.

The organization provides various benefits to make it more accessible and sustainable to have a pet, including financial assistance for pet supplies and discounts on veterinary care. Pets for Patriots has established hero and hardship programs to offer funds for veterans facing financial hardships to cover unexpected medical bills or for veterans in crisis, ensuring that veterans and their pets remain together through tough times.

BJ’s story of Thunder is one of countless examples of how Pets for Patriots has helped create lifesaving connections. In addition to the emotional support that companion animals bring, Pets for Patriots addresses the practical side of having a pet. With each match it makes, Pets for Patriots fulfills its vision of unleashing hope for veterans and animals alike.

K9s For Warriors, Working Dogs for Vets, and Pets for Patriots each serve veterans in unique ways, but they share a joint mission: to save lives on both ends of the leash. Through carefully crafted programs and compassionate partnerships, these organizations give veterans a lifeline, a purpose, and a path toward healing. The bond between veterans and their animals often becomes the anchor that keeps them grounded and focused on the future.

[Cat is a combat veteran’s new best friend]

Through their dedication, these organizations continue to make that lifesaving connection possible for veterans nationwide. Whether through service dogs trained to detect panic attacks, companion animals offering unconditional love, or unique programs designed to empower and heal, they ensure that no veteran faces their battles alone. In this mission, lives are truly saved — one match at a time.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.