Warrior Spotlight: Angela Bonanno Finds Healing Through Service and Dogs
Angela Bonanno is the kind of person who makes you wonder if there’s anything she doesn’t do.
She’s a mom, a wife, a dog lover, an X-ray and MRI tech and a Coast Guard Veteran. And now, she’s training to become a Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) Team Leader and preparing to raise her first Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) service dog in training.
It’s a life full of movement and purpose—traits that first led Bonanno to military service. But behind her drive and positivity are the lasting, invisible wounds she carries from that time. Her journey from injury to healing has been long—and ongoing—but throughout it all, a deep commitment to service has remained her compass.
“9/11 played a major role in my decision to join the Coast Guard,” she says. “I was in college when the towers fell, and it changed everything. A month later, I was in the recruiter’s office enlisting—I felt a strong pull to do something that truly mattered.”
Bonanno served for six years, including aboard the U.S. Cutter Jarvis and at Sector San Francisco, where she worked as an electrician. But it was during her time at sea that everything changed. A military sexual trauma and traumatic brain injury altered the course of her life—and her career.
She was discharged in November 2007. What followed was one of the darkest chapters of her life.
“I felt completely lost,” she says. “The first year out was brutal. I didn’t know where to turn. I had no direction, and I was in pain—emotionally and physically.”
Then she found the Wounded Warrior Project.
“I started with baby steps,” she says. “Just showing up to events, meeting other Veterans who got it. That connection saved me.”
WWP introduced her to a supportive community—and to Warrior Canine Connection. Dogs, as it turns out, had always been part of her story.
“I grew up with Labs. After my first therapy stay at the Menlo Park VA in 2010, I met some of the service dogs on site and just fell in love,” she recalls. “There’s always been a dog in my life helping me stay grounded.”
In 2024, Bonanno participated in WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) program at the Menlo Park VA, where Veterans help train future service dogs for fellow Warriors.
“I didn’t realize how much I was missing until I started working with the WCC dogs. My mood shifted. I felt calmer, more present. I knew then—I wanted to raise one of these dogs.”
That dream is now coming true. Angela has completed puppy-sitter training and will soon become a WCC Puppy Raiser. She and her family are preparing to welcome Rudy, a service dog in training, into their home. Her 3-year-old daughter Gianna is equally excited.
“She’s obsessed with dogs,” Bonanno laughs. “She makes report cards for the Puppy Raisers and brings them to training sessions. She’s going to be the best helper.”
Her husband, Robert, a firefighter, is fully onboard. WCC puppies have even visited his fire station.
As if that weren’t enough, Bonanno is also training to become a WWP Team Leader, which will allow her to host peer-support events and help guide other Veterans on their own paths to healing.
“I’ve been through it—I am still going through it,” she says. “But now I know how to navigate it, and I want to help other Veterans find that light too.”
That’s exactly what WWP and WCC have given her: belonging, purpose and hope. Whether through raising service dogs, mentoring others, or simply showing up, Bonanno is committed to continuing her mission of service.
“Service was what led me into the military,” she says. “And service is what’s helping me heal. This is the next chapter, and it’s a good one.”
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Radio personality Intern John from HOT 99.5 is bringing the funny—and the heart—with three special comedy shows in honor of his beloved dog, Chuy. After losing Chuy earlier this year, Intern John wanted to find a meaningful way to celebrate his legacy. Enter “Chuy Forever”—a weekend of laughs benefiting Warrior Canine Connection and its mission to train highly skilled service dogs for Veterans.
Sheila Jackson
Vivian Leven
When new clients walk into Patriots Law Group, they’re often met by Ralphie—a calm, attentive Labrador Retriever with a soothing presence and an innate ability to read a room. She’s not just the office dog. Ralphie is a Facility Dog, trained and placed by Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) to provide comfort, connection and calm in high-stress settings where Veterans live, work or receive care.
Please join us in welcoming Sue Watson to Warrior Canine Connection’s pack! A dedicated advocate for Veterans and a WCC Puppy Raiser, Sue brings a deep passion for service and a commitment to making a difference.
Warrior Canine Connection is saying farewell to one of its finest—or at least, we’re pretending to. Ann Iwancio may be retiring from her official role, but if you think that means she’ll disappear, think again. Whether it’s training sessions with WCC’s Ami, a special event or just finding an excuse to swing by the Healing Quarters, Ann will still be a part of WCC’s heartbeat. Because for Ann, working at WCC isn’t just a job—it’s a calling. And some callings don’t come with an off switch.
At WCC, we’ve always believed the bond between humans and dogs goes far beyond companionship—it’s a connection built on love, trust and healing. A new study, “Behavioral and emotional co-modulation during dog–owner interaction measured by heart rate variability and activity,” reveals that during interactions, the hearts of dogs and their owners actually synchronize, beating in unison as if connected by an invisible thread of understanding.
When the Smith family first met Juanita, a Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) dog who decided a service dog career wasn’t for her, they immediately knew she was the perfect match. What they didn’t expect was that Juanita would not only help them navigate the unique challenges of military life but also bring them an unexpected friendship with her puppy raiser, Diane Cadenhead, and her family.
Desiree may be new to our team, but she’s no stranger to WCC; She began raising service dog in training, Dash, last year. Originally from Northeast Ohio, Desiree followed her passion for wildlife and the environment to Maryland, earning her degree in Environmental Science & Policy from the University of Maryland in 2010.
We’re also excited to welcome Laura Osborne as WCC’s new part-time Accounting Assistant/Bookkeeper. Laura is rejoining the workforce after dedicating 23 years to raising her family, during which she also managed bookkeeping for her husband’s business. Laura attended George Mason University on a track scholarship and earned her economics degree with a concentration in accounting. She brings a keen eye for detail and an organized, proactive approach that will be a great asset to our team.
Kayla joined the WCC team in September, bringing a strong background in both psychology and dog training. A Maryland native, she previously worked as a certified dog trainer, specializing in helping family dogs with fear-based behavioral issues. With a degree in psychology from Goucher College and a master’s in social work from the University of Maryland, Kayla was drawn to WCC’s Mission-Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) program as the perfect combination of her background in social work, her passion for dog training, and her belief in the healing power of the Human Animal Bond.
