We are helping Veterans
reclaim their Lives,
one Dog at a
Time....
We are helping Veterans
reclaim their Lives,
one Dog at a
Time....
Based in the Greenville, SC area.
We have been serving the Veterans of Upstate SC
and Western NC since 2014!
For some, the battle is not over.
The sights, the sounds, the smells
still haunt the minds of many of our
Nation's Heroes.
We at Service Dogs for Veterans
are providing a new Battle Buddy
for these brave men and women to
help them cope with the pain of loss,
the nightmare of memory, and the loneliness of survival.
Are you looking for a Battle Buddy?
Ashley Johnson's Journey
Ashley Johnson’s walk is one of healing and growth
SD4V is grateful for the commercial establishments that allow us to conduct our Public Access training.
At the top of this list is Cabela’s. JD and his team have been a huge help. They not only allow us to train, they provide the space to have our graduation and conduct post-graduation interviews. THANK YOU!
We are grateful for other local merchants: Lowe’s, Target, Kohl’s, TJ Maxx and Walmart who allow our Service Dogs In Training to practice
Read about Our
Graduates:
Anita Wilson
and Bullet
Anita’s service to our country spans 30 years with the US Army and includes deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. In her long and distinguished career she attained the rank of E-8, Master Sergeant, with job responsibilities most civilians only read about.
Anita learned of Service Dogs for Veterans through AMVETS. Her pet German Shepard 'Bullet' was 10 months old and already 110# when they started training. The Tasks she taught Bullet were Push, Hug, and Cover. These he learned to do automatically when he senses Anita's anxiety ramping up. Anita was able to reduce her symptoms almost 28% through the 7 months of training.
For her, the most surprising and important aspect of the Service Dogs for Veterans program is the fact that the Veteran is trained to be the trainer/handler of their service dog, and there's' so much benefit doing it that way. She can continue the training because she knows all that went it to it, and doing it that way has made her stronger and much more knowledgeable.
She’s looking forward to getting out a lot more. They enjoy walking and hiking and even go fishing together. Anita said she is proud represent SD4V at an upcoming American Legion event and looks forward to other similar opportunities to talk about the program and how much it's helped her and Bullet.
When asked what she would say to another Veteran considering the SD4V training, Anita said to be prepared to be as loyal to your dog as your dog is to you. She added that the training process is not always going to be easy, but in the end, it is definitely worthwhile.
Josh Boyer
and Silo
Josh’s service to our country began in 2006 when he joined the US Army, and spanned nine years. He was deployed once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan as an E-5 Motor Transport Operator.
Josh comes to Service Dogs for Veterans from Mooresville, NC. His dog 'Silo' was adopted from Greenville Animal Care shelter. Josh said he knew that Silo was a keeper on their first meeting. He and Silo made the two hour trip to classes from NC. Josh was a stickler for following the program but what was surprising and special was how excellent Silo was in class, from the beginning. Josh reported a 23% reduction in his symptoms using the PCL-5 questionnaire before and after training. Silo mastered 4 ADA Tasks which he loves to perform when he senses Josh is in need.
Josh said he and Silo have enjoyed tremendous support from SD4V, and from his employer and co-workers who have created a welcoming environment for Silo. He compliments the SD4V training team, for their knowledge and their attention to each veteran and dog. The camaraderie between classmates in the all-veteran classes was a big help too.
When asked what he would say to another veteran considering the SD4V training, Josh said, “Do it! It’s life changing!”
