Held at the solemn and symbolic setting of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, K9s For Warriors marked its 15th anniversary on May 12 with an evening dedicated to service, sacrifice, and healing through the life-changing bond between Veterans and Service Dogs.
Taking place during Military Appreciation Month and Mental Health Month, and just ahead of Memorial Day, the event brought together Veterans, supporters, community leaders, and corporate partners to reflect on the organization’s continued mission of ensuring Veterans never fight their battles alone after returning home.
Since its founding in 2011, K9s For Warriors has become the nation’s leading provider of Service Dogs for Veterans living with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma. Over the past 15 years, the organization has paired more than 1,300 Veterans with Service Dogs while rescuing more than 2,500 dogs nationwide, giving both Warriors and canines a renewed sense of purpose and a second chance at life.
New York remains an important part of that mission, with more than 30 Veterans across the state having graduated from the program and 13 additional Veterans currently awaiting Service Dog placement.
One of the evening’s most moving moments came from Army Veteran Dave and his Service Dog, Doc, who shared their personal journey through the K9s For Warriors program. Speaking candidly about the invisible wounds many Veterans carry long after service ends, Dave reflected on how being paired with Doc in 2019 changed the trajectory of his life.
“Like many Veterans, I carried things home that didn’t stay overseas,” Dave shared. “There’s a difference between surviving and actually living. For a long time, I was simply surviving. When I met Doc, everything changed, not overnight, but meaningfully. He helped me move forward.”
Dave also reflected on the emotional significance of gathering at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum ahead of the upcoming 25th anniversary of 9/11. “For many of us, 9/11 was the reason we raised our right hand and chose to serve,” he said. “Standing here tonight is a reminder that the mission didn’t end; it evolved. K9s For Warriors is part of that evolution. It’s how we continue taking care of those who served.”
K9s for Warriors Chief Revenue Officer Lindsay Grayson also mentioned how the organization had been growing both nationally and in terms of its overall impact. For instance, in 2025 alone, K9s For Warriors paired 128 Veterans with Service Dogs, saved 198 shelter dogs all around the nation, and assigned 14 Station Dogs to various first responder and law enforcement agencies throughout the country; one such dog was Raine, a Station Dog assigned to Engine 46 of the Bronx.
In light of the weight of history and remembrance in Lower Manhattan, the evening became more than an anniversary celebration. It served as a reminder that healing heroes through Service Dogs continues to change lives across the country, creating renewed purpose, connection, and hope for Veterans and rescued canines alike.
Photos courtesy of K9s For Warriors.