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We support heroes
Patriot Service Dogs (PSD) is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to pairing well-trained service dogs with veterans free-of-charge. Any honorably discharged veteran with a physical or mental disability is eligible to apply--we do not favor any specific era of service or require veterans to be combat wounded.
PSD was founded in 2009 by Susan Bolton, Julie Sanderson, and five other dedicated volunteers and has grown to over 100 active volunteers. We are located in Central Florida but place dogs throughout the United States. If you would like to join our team, we have many volunteer opportunities available. If you would like apply for one of our dogs, please fill out an application and mail it in!
Give
There is no donation too big or small. We value both monetary donations and training items.
Train
Veterans receive a professionally trained and socialized service dog that will help them regain independence and change their life forever.
Receive
Any honorably discharged veteran is eligible to apply for a Patriot Service Dog.
Blog
Tank Triumphant: The Graduation Celebration!
As Patriot Service Dogs CEO, Julie Sanderson, said at the beginning of Tank’s graduation ceremony, “We’ve been training service dogs since 2009 and have placed close to fifty dogs in that time. We’ve been partnered with Department of Corrections since 2011 and have worked with countless inmate-trainers since then. But in all that time, there…
Real Vests, Fake Service Dogs: How Pet Dogs in Vests Impact Trained Veteran/Service Dog Teams
You’ve probably seen it, a dog barking in a restaurant or dragging their owner down the hallway of a hotel or even lunging at other dogs; they have a vest, maybe one that looks just like a PSD vest, but they don’t have the training to go with that responsibility. Once you’ve met a fully…
Whitman of WOOF: Celebrating National Pit-bull Awareness Month!
October is National Pit-Bull Awareness Month! So, in honor of this celebration, PSD wants to address some common questions we get about pit bulls as service dogs and recognize the incredible story of our own pittie and WOOF mascot, Whitman. Patriot Service Dogs is excited to help spread awareness about this misunderstood breed-and to spread…
Why Some Dogs Don’t Make It: 4 Reasons Why PSD Releases Dogs in Training and How You Can Help Them Succeed
Every time we pick up an eight-week-old puppy to start their training, we know we are asking him or her to live an extraordinary dog life; we also know that it might not be the life they want or were born for. Through two years of training, we put our all into each puppy and…
Puppy Days: Inside the First Days of Training
September doesn’t just mean the last days of summer for Patriot Service Dogs, it means we’re entering a new season–no, not fall–puppy season! In the last few weeks we have welcomed two new pups, Sam and Richard. Both boys still have that super soft puppy fur and those super sharp puppy teeth, but they have…
Disney World, The Most Magical Training Location on Earth: Behind PSD’s Annual Training Trip
For most of the organization’s history, Patriot Service Dogs has made an annual training trip to Disney World. Because we are based in Central Florida, Disney is an easy location for our trainers to convene. In 2020, we skipped the trip due to health concerns, but this year, we are restarting the tradition! Julie Sanderson,…
Bernie on the Beat: Inside Tank’s New Job With the Nassau County Sheriff
“Unique” has always described Tank–from the moment he joined Patriot Service Dogs as a ball of black and brown fluff, to his goofball personality during training, and now, to his final placement. Tank, PSD’s only Bernese Mountain Dog, is not going to be matched as a service dog for a wounded veteran, but he has…
Graduation of the 2021 Summer Class!
On July 17th, Patriot Service Dogs added four new teams to our family! The graduation ceremony was a celebration of the dogs, their veterans, and everyone who contributed to the training of the dogs for these past two years! Because not everyone could attend the graduation, we are sharing a photo gallery and more information…
Inside Advanced Training
This week, Patriot Service Dogs has been running our second Advanced Training of 2021! If you follow PSD through the digital newsletter, social media, or sponsor updates you’ve likely seen photos and news on this class of veteran/service dogs teams. It’s an exciting time for everyone in our community, but we know that it can…
Meet the “Triplets”
In November of 2019, among Tennessee’s fall leaves, the “Triplets” (Captain, Auggie, and Norman) joined the Patriot Service Dog training program as eight-week-old puppies. All three were donated by long-time PSD supporter and friend, Traci Thompson of Country Goldens. PSD has been lucky to train many dogs from Traci including graduates like Hero, Patriot, and…
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Testimonial
LIVING A MORE FUNCTIONAL LIFE
"Bradley came into my life just over a year ago, but it seems like much longer than that. Bradley is full of energy and loves to help me out in any way he can. Bradley's specific training to my needs allows him to help me live a more functional life. There are certain things that I did not understand if I would be able to do again, but I found out with Bradley I can do them. He has a bond with me that a person nor a material item can provide. He is a big ball of energy, but when it's time to get into "Cape," he turns into my superhero. I am truly grateful for Patriot Service Dogs and the legacy they are passing on every year to help support wounded veterans like myself. You have touched me and my family's lives forever, and I couldn't imagine life without my buddy (Bradley). For that, I am truly grateful."
- MARK RUSH, RETIRED ARMY