At the 2023 NCMS training conference in New Orleans, America's VetDogs guest "graduate," speaker Air Force veteran Nathan Gardner, proudly took the stage with his service dog Kenzo by his side. Nathan shared his personal story in front of the largest audience NCMS has seen, as more than 1,700 people attended the conference.   He did a remarkable job! You can watch Nathan's inspirational speech here.

What a better way for NCMS to share their commitment to helping veterans and first responders then joining forces with America's VetDogs, a leader in the service dog industry and home of Sully H.W. Bush , service dog for the late President George H.W. Bush. The team at America's VetDogs is honored to continue our work with NCMS in 2024 as we celebrate 12 years of partnership. While we look forward to seeing you again in person in Nashville, TN for the 60th Annual NCMS 2024 Annual Training Seminar, we hope you'll join us virtually for the third annual NCMS / America's VetDogs Virtual 5K & Dog Walk. You can register now  for the virtual race, which you can participate in from March 25 - May 10, 2024.

If you have any questions about America's VetDogs and its partnership with NCMS or about raising funds for those we serve, please email Dawn Dioguardo at dawn.dioguardo@vetdogs.org or call her at 631-930-9007.  

About America’s VetDogs®

For more than 20 years, America’s VetDogs (www.VetDogs.org) has trained and placed guide and service dogs to provide independence, enhanced mobility, and companionship to veterans with disabilities from all eras and active-duty military. In 2015, America’s VetDogs opened its programs to first responders, including fire, police, and emergency medical personnel. America’s VetDogs is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded by the Guide Dog Foundation and serves clients from across the United States. America’s VetDogs has been accredited by both the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International.

America’s VetDogs relies on contributions from generous individuals, corporations, service clubs, and foundations to fund its mission to help those who have served our country live with dignity and independence. It costs more than $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one assistance dog, but America’s VetDogs provides its services completely free of charge to the individual.

America’s VetDogs has placed more than 1,000 service and guide dogs with veterans, active-duty military, and first responders with physical and emotional disabilities from all 50 states as well as Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and beyond. America’s VetDogs service dogs are taught specialized tasks and skills such as: rest, retrieve dropped items, positional cues to extend their handler’s personal space when in a crowded setting, counterbalance, nightmare interruption, press buttons to summon help and to open doors, seizure response, hearing dog tasks, walk alongside a wheelchair or power scooter and more. Each task and skill are a part of carefully structured programs of America’s VetDogs that includes mobility service dogs, guide dogs, PTSD service dogs, seizure response dogs, hearing dogs, military facility dogs, and more. 

Learn how to apply, volunteer, or donate at www.VetDogs.org.