Celebrate Service Dogs On National Pet Day with Northwest Battle Buddies #NationalPetDay

Recent statistics show that as of 2024, 66% of U.S. households (86.9 million homes) own a pet. They provide unconditional love, companionship, and more. 

This National Pet Day April 11th, we would like to honor the pets who serve as invaluable companions to Veterans struggling with PTSD. These are the specially trained service dogs from Northwest Battle Buddies (NWBB), who help Veterans live the life they deserve. 

22 Veterans a day, over 8,000 a year, commit suicide on American soil.  The 212+ NWBB dogs that serve as companions for Veterans have been lifelines to these American heroes, and we can proudly say that every pairing is a success.

Veterans facing the challenges of PTSD find solace and support in their remarkable canine companions, known as Battle Buddies. These extraordinary dogs are paired with Veterans coping with anxiety, panic attacks, and depression, providing invaluable assistance in their journey towards healing and resilience. From accompanying them on routine errands to enjoying leisure activities, these faithful companions enable Veterans to engage in everyday experiences that may otherwise seem daunting. With over five months of training, NWBB dogs can do so much for their partners, including waking their Veteran from nightmares, interrupting anxiety attacks, redirecting flashbacks, alerting on adrenaline, providing a social barrier in public, performing pressure therapy, and providing a constant feeling of safety.

Battle Buddies also enrich their partners’ connections to others. Here is what NWBB Veteran Ryan has to say about his Battle Buddy dog Twitch: 

“After serving two tours in Iraq, I had all the signs of a Veteran in distress. I was socially withdrawn, chronically anxious, and had little hope for my future. NWBB changed everything. My service dog helped me improve my marriage, find better jobs, and even buy a house. Dreams I thought were unattainable started coming true...I was finally happy and comfortable.”