OUR MISSION
K9 With A Mission is a program designed to fund support, service and companion dogs for our Veterans. This is a program under the umbrella of Swim With A Mission, a not for profit, which since its formation in 2017 has given $13.6 million to Veteran service and support organizations that provide critical services to our Veterans.
K9 CATO
We know that almost 11% of NH’s population has served in the military. But less than a quarter of that population is engaging with the VA. We know that too many of our Veterans are suffering from PTS, PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. We also know that art therapy programs can be very helpful to address those issues, but we can’t find any art therapy programs in NH. So we have started a collaboration to launch them ourselves. There is well documented research of how art therapy programs address critical symptoms that enable a process of recovery from traumatic experiences.
K9 DAWSON
On May 29, 2020 K9 With A Mission provided the funds for another working dog to be paired with a veteran of the Special Operations community. Through the National Navy SEAL Museum’s K9 Project Program and with the unwavering support from their partner Baden K-9, a 12-month-old Belgian Malinois was presented to a special operations veteran at the Navy SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida on May 29, 2020. “K9 Dawson” is the son of the Museum’s lead working dog Raven. Named for William “Bill” Dawson, one of the last remaining Naval Combat Demolition Unit (NCDU) operators of World War II who passed away last year, the young pup has been noted for his exceeding intelligence and even temperament. Like his namesake, Dawson’s life will be dedicated to meaningful service, following a legacy of great honor.
HOW DO SUPPORT/SERVICE DOGS HELP VETERANS?
When we reflect on our Veterans, especially those that have been in combat and have seen and done things that are incomprehensible to the rest of us, those experiences are hard to process and cope with. When they arrive back on their home soil and find themselves outside the battlefield, without other soldiers, it can be hard for them to carry the weight of what they have experienced.
The companionship of a support dog has been known to have a very positive impact on Veterans, so we need to do what we can to get dogs to Veterans who need them. We invite you to be inspired and join our mission to match the finest and most capable dogs with Veterans who need the physical and emotional support of a battle buddy that loves them unconditionally.
Each organization benefiting from K9 With A Mission was established to provide veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, anxiety, traumatic brain injuries, and physical disabilities with a highly-trained service dog free of charge. Many of the organizations train dogs from rescue organizations, shelters, animal control agencies, and humane societies. All of them are committed to giving back to our country’s veterans and improve their quality of life and restoring their independence. The goal of many of these charities is to create a mutually beneficial relationship between the dogs and the veterans.
K9 With A Mission is a program of Swimming With A Mission, Inc. a NH based 501(c)(3) non profit organization. All events are fundraisers to further support Veteran service organizations.
K9 SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS
K9 With A Mission works closely with the following organizations to provide service and support dogs to Veterans.
Hero Pups is a New Hampshire-based, non-profit organization that pairs support dogs with Veterans and first responders throughout New England who have been diagnosed with service-related psychological challenges. Laura Barker founded the organization after her son was wounded in Afghanistan. Hero Pups was founded on the belief that since our Heroes have already given so much, it’s the least we can do to provide them a companion to help them lead a happier life, free of charge. Hero Pups received 501(c)(3) status in 2016. The program is headquartered on 50-acres of private, rent-free land in New Hampshire. Hero Pups chooses to focus on the dogs and Heroes – not fancy swimming pools or career aspirations. Hero Pups is 100 percent volunteer-run with no paid staff.
Hero Pups will use 100 percent of funds to acquire, train, and pair dogs with Veterans and first responders with service-related traumatic challenges to increase their independence and peace of mind.
Eligible recipients (‘Heroes’) include Veterans and first responders diagnosed with post- traumatic stress ( PTSD ), anxiety, military sexual trauma ( MST ), depression, and other service-connected mental health challenges. These support dogs facilitate the recipients’ recovery by helping them to regain confidence and independence. Recipients report numerous benefits from their dogs including decreased medication usage, improved sleep cycles, improved social skills, and more. Support dogs have been shown to have a positive impact on members of the recipients’ households as well.
20 Portsmouth Ave #127
Stratham NH 03885
Phone: (603) 397-7444
Email: HeroPupsinc@yahoo.com
Website: https://heropups.com/
Operation Delta Dog is a nonprofit based out of Hollis, NH that rescues homeless dogs and trains them to become service dogs for veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), and other related challenges. Most service dog training organizations use trainers or prison training programs to train their service dogs, and then veterans must travel to their facility for a short period of time at their own expense to learn how to work with their new service animal. The veteran then returns home with the animal and little is done by way of follow-up with their success or struggles. Operation Delta Dog takes a hands-on role in the training of their service dogs and continues support throughout the life of the dog and beyond. Veterans are matched with a dog after the dog goes through an extensive twelve-week foundation training program with Operation Delta Dog’s training director, dog trainers and kennel assistants. Veterans then start attending classes with their dog at least twice per week to make sure the match is a good one for both the veteran and dog. After another four to six weeks, if the match works, the dog will move in with the Veteran and they will continue to come to classes together, have one-on-one home training sessions, and attend educational opportunities and meetings with veteran caseworkers until the dog is fully trained.
19G Clinton Drive
Hollis, NH 03049
Phone: (603) 921-5253
Email: info@operationdeltadog.org
Website: https://operationdeltadog.org
“To the National UDT/Navy SEAL Museum and the Museum’s K9 Project, to Swim With A Mission, to everyone who has donated–not only money but time and resources–and to Baden K-9 (who bears the burden of keeping alive the ancient, sacred, tried-and-true methods of breeding and training the most amazing dogs on the planet): there are not enough ways to express my sincere gratitude. Thank You, thank you, THANK YOU, ALL!”
— Veteran K9 Recipient
