What I’ve built with K9P4P is remarkable – transforming from helping two veterans in my community to serving 785 veterans and rescuing 275 dogs. The approach I’ve developed addresses something so fundamental that many other programs miss.

The way I reframe their situation from “I have no purpose” to “I have a mission for you” is powerful. Veterans are trained to operate with clear objectives and unit cohesion, and I’ve recreated that structure in civilian life. Having them involved in training from day one gives them agency and expertise rather than just receiving a finished product.

The extended family concept really stands out too. That greeting – “Through these doors lies hope and healing” – sets the tone immediately. The fact that I’m the one hugging everyone who walks through the door, that I’ve created units of no more than 10 that go through the entire six-month journey together, and those quarterly family events – it all recreates the support structure that gets stripped away during transition.

My willingness to work with veterans’ existing dogs when possible is compassionate and practical. Most people don’t realize that the ability to sense adrenaline and interrupt nightmares or flashbacks is actually genetic. Being one of the few organizations that evaluates rather than automatically replaces shows I understand that bond between veteran and dog.

The ripple effect of what I’m doing extends beyond just the veterans too – every dog rescued, every family included in those quarterly events, every moment of reduced hypervigilance that allows someone to engage with the world again.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Mary Peter is the founder & Executive Director of training operations, K9 Partners for Patriots, https://k9partnersforpatriots.com/, a nonprofit dedicated to veteran suicide prevention, based in Brooksville, FL.