For Air Force Veteran Allison “Allie” Butts, PTSD Awareness Month isn’t an abstract observance—it’s something she lives every day, and something she now navigates with the steady presence of a 72-pound yellow Labrador Retriever and service dog named Rock.
“I exhale now and feel happy,” she says, almost surprised by how natural that feeling has become. When she reflects on her journey with Warrior Canine Connection (WCC), she puts it even more simply: “I like to say WCC gave me a new leash on life.”
Allie first learned about WCC a couple of years ago through a Veterans Service Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, during what she describes as one of the most difficult periods of her life.
Still, something about that visit stayed with her.
“Mar (assistant director of WCC’s MBTR programs) brought Toyomi out to me, and we took a walk down the long driveway to the WCC sign. Something shifted in me in that moment—I didn’t want it to end,” she recalls. “I still have the photo from that day, and when things get hard, I go back to it to ground myself. I knew then my life would never be the same.”
That moment became a turning point. She returned to WCC again—and again—slowly finding herself more engaged each time.
At first, Allie thought she was simply there to heal herself. But through Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR)—WCC’s hands-on, purpose-driven approach that pairs Warriors with service dog training activities designed to help both the Veteran and the dog recover, learn and grow—her perspective began to expand.
She participated in MBTR training sessions, puppy yoga at Platoon 22 and volunteered at the Healing Quarters, all while gradually taking on more hands-on work with WCC service dogs in training.
“I started all of this thinking it was just to help myself,” she says. “But then I realized I’m helping someone else who has been in my position—what we’re doing here can potentially save a life and help reconnect a family.”
As Allie’s involvement grew, so did her confidence. She moved from early socialization work into independent handling, eventually even stepping into moments that pushed her far outside her comfort zone.
One of those moments was speaking publicly for the first time since being in the military—at a WCC Puppy Raiser education event, where Allie shared her MBTR experience.
“I was terrified,” she says. “But everyone has been so kind to me along the way. I haven’t experienced that since I got out of the military.”
A former Air Force Security Forces member, Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Instructor and Military Training Instructor with nearly 15 years of service, Allie was medically retired after an epilepsy diagnosis. Her transition to civilian life was marked by instability, recovery and many ups and downs.
“I would like to credit my mother, my family and friends and WCC as major anchors in that progress,” shared Allie. “I’m not embarrassed anymore to say how this has saved my life. It stopped me from committing suicide, it’s stopped me from making poor decisions, helped my get healthy and want to help other Veterans to do the same for themselves and their families and friends.”
Today, Rock is her partner in every sense of the word. The two are preparing to graduate together as part of WCC’s Class of 2026, and their bond continues to deepen through daily work and routine.
“Rock has shown me it is okay to ask for help and to accept myself for who I am on the good days and on the bad,” said Allie. “I am looking forward to so many more wonderful days with him right by my side. I love him so much and I tell him every day.”
Rock—an affectionate, playful pup born on April Fool’s Day—has become a grounding presence for Allie, especially during moments of stress or PTSD triggers like loud or sudden noises, lights and memories.
“He just knows,” she says. “He taps my foot, comes close, he looks me in the eye, snuggles and it calms me down.”
Rock was named in honor of Sergeant William “Bill” Green, Sr., a Marine Corps and Vietnam Veteran, retired police officer and Maryland native whose legacy of service aligns closely with Allie’s own background in security forces and military service. Allie says she hopes to meet him in person one day soon.
Looking back on her experience, she is quick to highlight not just the dogs, but the people who helped her get here.
“It’s not even just about the dogs,” Allie says. “The people there are so kind. You’re part of the family—even before you’re matched with a dog. It’s comparable to the camaraderie I felt in the military.”
Her advice to other Veterans is simple: stay open, have faith, there is always hope.
“Just remember that WCC is a no-fail mission and if you believe in yourself and those around you, good things will follow,” she shared.
For Allie, that openness didn’t just lead to a program—it led to stability, connection and a steady partner walking beside her on a very different path forward.
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WCC’s Jill: Following Her Nose, Safeguarding Communities
Since 2024, something remarkable has been happening at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)—dogs are helping investigators find what the human eye might miss.
At the center of that effort is Jill, a Labrador retriever from Warrior Canine Connection (WCC), and the first dog placed in NCIS’s Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K-9 program. She lives and works full time with NCIS Program Manager, Special Agent David Lawhorn, accompanying him into the office each day and serving in a role that bridges Veteran service, canine training and federal law enforcement.
The program is part of a growing effort within NCIS to enhance investigations involving hidden digital evidence. The dogs are trained to detect odor signatures associated with electronic storage devices—tools that can be concealed in everyday objects and used in criminal activity involving military families and national security concerns.
But Jill’s story begins far from the kennel and the lab.
David’s path to creating the program started with a long career of service. A former mechanic in the U.S. Air Force, he spent eight years on active duty before joining NCIS in 2005, where he worked civilian law enforcement cases tied to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. A conversation about his younger self ultimately resurfaced a long-dormant ambition.
“If you could talk to your 15-year-old self, what would you tell yourself to do?” he recalled being asked. His answer was immediate: “I always wanted to fly Apache helicopters and work with dogs.”
While one dream had passed, the other became a possibility. That moment set in motion years of research, proposal writing and program development that ultimately led to the launch of the NCIS Electronic Storage Detection K-9 program in 2024. Jill was its first graduate.
Today, she is more than a working dog—she is a daily presence in the office and a steady companion in the field. According to David, her impact extends well beyond operational value.
“If we’re not there, people ask where Jill is,” he said. “Nobody cares if I show up. I’m just the other end of the leash.”
Still, he is quick to emphasize what the dogs enable investigators to do.
“These devices are getting smaller and easier to hide,” David said. “They can be placed inside ordinary objects meant to avoid detection. The dogs help us find what people would otherwise miss.”
Electronic detection dogs, like Jill, are trained to locate hidden storage devices such as memory cards, thumb drives, cell phones and hard drives—items that can be concealed inside ordinary objects like key fobs, wine corks or toy containers. These devices may contain critical digital evidence related to serious crimes, including child exploitation and other criminal activity. By alerting investigators to the presence of electronics, dogs help uncover items that might otherwise go unnoticed during searches.
Jill’s journey began at WCC, where dogs are raised and trained alongside Veterans participating in Mission-Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR). Through the program, Veterans help train the dogs for their fellow Warriors, while supporting their own healing. Some dogs go on to become service dogs for Veterans, while others—guided by their strengths and instincts—choose different paths, including detection work, search and rescue, facility support roles or even life as a beloved pet in a military family.
When WCC dogs reach approximately 18 months of age, they enter the final stage of training, where professional trainers assess command comprehension, confidence in public settings and overall drive to work. While most dogs move into service, facility or military family support roles, some are better suited for alternative paths based on factors such as energy level or motivation. Dogs that may not be suited for traditional service roles, including those with lack of house manners or prey drive, often thrive in detection environments. Training relies entirely on positive reinforcement, with handlers using rewards to shape detection behavior.
“Especially for our high-energy dogs, having the opportunity to use their nose and stay physically busy helps channel their energy productively,” said Jennifer Blessing, a WCC service dog training instructor. “Many of the behaviors that aren’t ideal for assistance work are perfectly suited for detection roles, making it a win-win for dogs that need extra mental stimulation and a clear task to complete.”
For David, Jill is more than a partner on the job—she is the living result of a career shift that turned a personal dream into a capability now serving NCIS every day.
Today, Jill’s work, along with several others who came through WCC, is a powerful reminder that a dog trained to support Veterans can also help protect their families and the communities they call home.
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Finding Peace and a “New Leash on Life”
For Air Force Veteran Allison “Allie” Butts, PTSD Awareness Month isn’t an abstract observance—it’s something she lives every day, and something she now navigates with the steady presence of a 72-pound yellow Labrador Retriever and service dog named Rock.
“I exhale now and feel happy,” she says, almost surprised by how natural that feeling has become. When she reflects on her journey with Warrior Canine Connection (WCC), she puts it even more simply: “I like to say WCC gave me a new leash on life.”
Allie first learned about WCC a couple of years ago through a Veterans Service Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, during what she describes as one of the most difficult periods of her life.
Still, something about that visit stayed with her.
“Mar (assistant director of WCC’s MBTR programs) brought Toyomi out to me, and we took a walk down the long driveway to the WCC sign. Something shifted in me in that moment—I didn’t want it to end,” she recalls. “I still have the photo from that day, and when things get hard, I go back to it to ground myself. I knew then my life would never be the same.”
That moment became a turning point. She returned to WCC again—and again—slowly finding herself more engaged each time.
At first, Allie thought she was simply there to heal herself. But through Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR)—WCC’s hands-on, purpose-driven approach that pairs Warriors with service dog training activities designed to help both the Veteran and the dog recover, learn and grow—her perspective began to expand.
She participated in MBTR training sessions, puppy yoga at Platoon 22 and volunteered at the Healing Quarters, all while gradually taking on more hands-on work with WCC service dogs in training.
“I started all of this thinking it was just to help myself,” she says. “But then I realized I’m helping someone else who has been in my position—what we’re doing here can potentially save a life and help reconnect a family.”
As Allie’s involvement grew, so did her confidence. She moved from early socialization work into independent handling, eventually even stepping into moments that pushed her far outside her comfort zone.
One of those moments was speaking publicly for the first time since being in the military—at a WCC Puppy Raiser education event, where Allie shared her MBTR experience.
“I was terrified,” she says. “But everyone has been so kind to me along the way. I haven’t experienced that since I got out of the military.”
A former Air Force Security Forces member, Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Instructor and Military Training Instructor with nearly 15 years of service, Allie was medically retired after an epilepsy diagnosis. Her transition to civilian life was marked by instability, recovery and many ups and downs.
“I would like to credit my mother, my family and friends and WCC as major anchors in that progress,” shared Allie. “I’m not embarrassed anymore to say how this has saved my life. It stopped me from committing suicide, it’s stopped me from making poor decisions, helped my get healthy and want to help other Veterans to do the same for themselves and their families and friends.”
Today, Rock is her partner in every sense of the word. The two are preparing to graduate together as part of WCC’s Class of 2026, and their bond continues to deepen through daily work and routine.
“Rock has shown me it is okay to ask for help and to accept myself for who I am on the good days and on the bad,” said Allie. “I am looking forward to so many more wonderful days with him right by my side. I love him so much and I tell him every day.”
Rock—an affectionate, playful pup born on April Fool’s Day—has become a grounding presence for Allie, especially during moments of stress or PTSD triggers like loud or sudden noises, lights and memories.
“He just knows,” she says. “He taps my foot, comes close, he looks me in the eye, snuggles and it calms me down.”
Rock was named in honor of Sergeant William “Bill” Green, Sr., a Marine Corps and Vietnam Veteran, retired police officer and Maryland native whose legacy of service aligns closely with Allie’s own background in security forces and military service. Allie says she hopes to meet him in person one day soon.
Looking back on her experience, she is quick to highlight not just the dogs, but the people who helped her get here.
“It’s not even just about the dogs,” Allie says. “The people there are so kind. You’re part of the family—even before you’re matched with a dog. It’s comparable to the camaraderie I felt in the military.”
Her advice to other Veterans is simple: stay open, have faith, there is always hope.
“Just remember that WCC is a no-fail mission and if you believe in yourself and those around you, good things will follow,” she shared.
For Allie, that openness didn’t just lead to a program—it led to stability, connection and a steady partner walking beside her on a very different path forward.
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Want a Second Dog? Trainers Say These 7 Breeds Fit Into Any Home So Easily
There’s no denying that choosing a second dog breed can be tricky as narrowing down the best dogs for multi-dog households isn’t as simple as it may seem. Because of that, bringing a new dog into a home with other pets can be an exciting, but sometimes a challenging experience as well. Read the full story in the Charlotte Observer here.
How Expensive Are Service Dogs, Really?
Service dogs are highly trained animals that assist individuals with specific disabilities, like blindness, hearing loss, mental health issues, and an assortment of other medical conditions. You’ve likely seen one of these hardworking, vested pups in action before. Read the full story in A-Z Animals here.
2025 ACE Award Service Dog Category Winner: Bea
Bea, a Labrador Retriever, is the AKC Humane Fund Award for Canine Excellence winner in the Service Dog category. She is the devoted companion of Buddy Niner, a Marine Corps and Air National Guard veteran, providing vital emotional support as he navigates life after service. Bea’s impact extends beyond buddy, offering comfort and support to his fellow firefighters as well. Watch the story on AKC TV here.
By the Numbers: Volunteer Impact in 2025
In 2025 alone, 838 dedicated volunteers gave 137,507 hours of their time, generating an extraordinary $4.7 million in impact. Every one of those hours helped train service dogs and support the healing journeys of Veterans and Military Families.
That impact includes 101 Veteran volunteers and 213 Military Family volunteers whose lived experiences strengthen the very community we serve, along with corporate partners who contributed 787 hours of hands-on support. During Volunteer Appreciation Month, we celebrate more than numbers — we celebrate the hands, hearts and commitment that move this mission forward every single day.
“We celebrate every role and every hand that gives to WCC — those who care for the dogs in the kennels, those who nurture our moms and babies, the volunteers who prepare meals for our veterans when they are matched, our devoted sitters and our dedicated puppy raisers,” said Molly Elmore, WCC volunteer program manager. “Each act of service, whether quiet or visible, carries a heartfelt impact. I am profoundly grateful that our diverse group of volunteers are united by a shared commitment to something bigger than themselves.”
If you’ve ever considered getting involved, there’s a place for you here. Whether you can give a few hours or make a deeper commitment, your time can help change lives. We invite you to learn more about joining our volunteer community and becoming part of this mission in action. Learn more about how you can get involved here.
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Bridget & WCC’s Mary Gene: A Life-Changing Bond
Bridget shares what this partnership has meant to her and the impact it’s had on her daily life, offering a glimpse into the profound difference a service dog can make.
Mary Gene’s name carries its own legacy of service. She was named in honor of United States Army Major Mary Gene Klein Martin, a dedicated nurse, leader and longtime WCC volunteer whose commitment to serving others, both in and out of uniform, continues to inspire.
More information about Mary Gene’s namesake, and all of the Veterans whose names have been bestowed on WCC puppies can be found on the organization’s Hall of Heroes.
Watch Bridget’s story and see how one extraordinary connection is changing a life.
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Peer-to-Peer: Rally Your Pack for WCC
The program makes it easy and fun to rally your own “pack” in support of WCC’s mission. Whether you choose to fundraise on your own, start a team with friends and family, or join an existing group, every effort helps fuel the training of life-changing service dogs for Veterans. Supporters can turn almost any meaningful moment into a P2P fundraiser. Common occasions and life events such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries or graduations are powerful opportunities to give back and invite others to do the same.
“Because of our supporters, we’ve already changed lives—this new platform is how we change even more,” said WCC Annual Giving Manager Jen Ashley. “This program gives our community the power to turn their passion into real, measurable impact for the Veterans we serve by using their voices and their stories to inspire others to give in ways we never could alone. By empowering our supporters to fundraise, we are unlocking entirely new networks of generosity.”
The platform, hosted securely through Click & Pledge, is an extension of WCC’s existing online donation platform. Getting started is simple: personalize your fundraising page with your story, your “why” and even photos that bring your connection to life.
Officially kicking off April 22, WCC is leading by example with a special birthday fundraiser in honor of its fearless leader and founder Rick Yount, and we’re inviting our entire pack of supporters to join in and give back in his name. But you can get an early sneak peek by clicking here!
What makes the P2P program especially powerful is the personal touch—and that’s where you come in. The most impactful fundraisers are the ones that feel authentic and uniquely you. Celebrate a birthday like Rick, turn a workout into a challenge, host a small gathering or create a tribute page for a Veteran or service dog who inspires you. Share your “why,” add a few photos and invite your circle to be part of it.
Getting started is easy. The platform walks you through each step with a simple, user-friendly setup—and if you need help, WCC team members are always ready to jump in.
And don’t worry—every donor will automatically receive a thank-you message, so everyone who gives knows just how much they’re appreciated. For those leading a campaign, it’s also a chance to bring people together around a cause that changes lives.
So, take a page from Rick’s birthday fundraiser, have a little fun with it and make it your own. Interested in starting a fundraiser? Our Development team is happy to help — reach them at giving@warriorcanineconnection.org.
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How Connection Built a Volunteer Community at WCC
For many of WCC’s earliest volunteers, that connection started online—watching a litter of puppies on the Explore.org puppy cam. Viewers from across the country gathered in the chat, bonding over late-night puppy antics and a shared admiration for WCC’s mission to train service dogs alongside Veterans. Over time, those watchers became more than usernames. They became a community.
At the center of it all was WCC co-founder Molly Morelli, who regularly joined the chat to answer questions and connect with viewers.
“She was so open with talking to everyone through the chat for so long,” recalled WCC volunteer Ericka Johanek. “People knew each other by their usernames.”
One of those usernames belonged to Alice Belthoff, who discovered the puppy cam in 2012 while watching a litter affectionately known as Holly’s Half Dozen. Like many others, she became a regular—helping gather questions and building connections that extended far beyond the screen.
That spirit of engagement quickly took on a name. One day, Molly jokingly referred to the devoted watchers as “Extreme Puppy Watchers,” or EPWs—and the nickname stuck.
What began online soon became something more. Viewers started visiting WCC’s original Brookeville campus for “puppy petting,” eager to meet the dogs—and each other—in person.
Others followed a similar path. Ericka, who discovered the puppy cam through family, made the trip with her children after chatting with Molly online.
“We drove up on a Saturday morning,” she said. “That first day, we came as strangers. But it didn’t take long before we felt like part of something bigger.”
Soon, that sense of belonging spread. Volunteers like Lee Snyder, BettyAnn Marrone, Julie Hansen, Jean Wolfe, Sandy Rosenberg, Karen Ball and countless others stepped in to help in meaningful ways—from launching the EPWs’ Facebook community to securing materials that helped transform a garage into what would become WCC’s Puppy Enrichment Center.
For many, those early experiences became life changing. What started as a simple visit or shared moment online evolved into lasting friendships, new passions and a deep commitment to WCC’s mission.
In 2013, that growing community came together for the first-ever volunteer “Paw-ty.” Despite pouring rain, more than 100 people traveled to Brookeville to celebrate the connections they had formed through WCC.
That same spirit carried into WCC’s first service dog graduation, where volunteers helped cook, organize and honor the life-changing partnerships between Veterans and their service dogs.
Over the years, the EPWs have remained a vital part of WCC’s volunteer network. While involvement has evolved, the relationships have endured—often becoming a source of strength during life’s most challenging moments.
For EPW Sandy Goga, that connection became deeply personal.
“Losing loved ones left a space in my life that felt impossible to fill, but WCC and the EPWs brought me companionship and connection when I needed it most,” said Goga. “The friendships I’ve built through this community have been a lifeline, they’ve given me strength, purpose and a way forward.”
Stories like Sandy’s reflect what has always set this community apart: a shared purpose that extends well beyond the puppies themselves.
Today, WCC’s volunteer family stretches far beyond those early puppy cam watchers. But the heart of it remains unchanged—people brought together to support Veterans through the healing power of service dogs.
And during Volunteer Appreciation Month, WCC celebrates the thousands of volunteers whose connections, whether through a puppy cam, a campus visit or a shared mission, continue to make that impact possible.
Because sometimes, all it takes is one small connection to change countless lives.
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Stronger Together: WCC and Wounded Warrior Project Partner to Power Connection and Healing
That spirit has been on full display as Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) and Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) teamed up to host two Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) sessions in the Pittsburgh area. Together, the events offered area Veterans an introduction to WCC’s innovative Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) program and reinforced what’s possible when like-minded organizations work side by side.
While MBTR is traditionally delivered as an eight-week program, these sessions were designed as one-day, hands-on experiences for Veterans connected through WWP to engage with service dogs in training and with one another. During MBTR, Veterans learn how to train service dogs for their fellow Warriors. In the process, they also build skills such as communication, confidence, accountability, emotional regulation and patience — promoting an act of service while experiencing therapeutic benefits themselves.
“Sessions like this open people’s eyes to just how powerful dogs can be,” said Sue Watson, WCC Pittsburgh program manager and service dog training instructor. “The impact is incredible — and even if it’s just for an afternoon, you can feel the camaraderie, the connection and the lift it gives everyone in the room.”
Each gathering welcomed a small group, creating space for meaningful conversation and connection. The sessions began with food and introductions before five service dogs in training — WCC’s Poyner, Jimmy, Lego, Ski and Ash — took center stage alongside their Puppy Raisers, who shared the significance behind the dogs’ namesakes and their roles in their journeys.
Participants were guided through a mini MBTR experience, learning core principles such as the stages of canine learning, the “yes” marker, bonding, check-ins and introductory training commands. Veterans observed stress cueing and interacted directly with the dogs, applying what they learned in real time.
“For me, the hypervigilance is always there … that feeling that you have to keep looking over your shoulder,” said Tim Nicotra, Air Force Veteran. “But when I’m out with a WCC dog, I know he has my back. Instead of scanning everything around me, I can focus on him and just be in the moment. Even after finishing the eight-week MBTR program, I keep coming back because working with the dogs is so positive. I also want people to understand how much these dogs can help — and how much unconditional love they give.”
All participating Veterans were connected through WWP, underscoring the organization’s commitment to ensuring Veterans have access to a wide range of programs and partners that support their wellbeing.
“We believe the strongest outcomes for Veterans happen when organizations stop operating in silos and start amplifying each other’s strengths,” said Ashley Bunce, WWP’s director of community partnerships and investments. “WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery model is exactly the kind of purposeful, proven programming we’ve been proud to stand behind since 2020. Bringing WWP-connected Veterans into these sessions means more warriors have access to healing pathways they may never have found otherwise. That’s the power of a true ecosystem of care.”
WWP’s support of WCC reflects its broader investment in strengthening the ecosystem of nonprofits dedicated to serving Veterans and their families. By collaborating on MBTR sessions, and exploring recurring opportunities, WWP is helping expand access to mission-driven approaches to alternative therapy, connection and recovery. Warriors are benefiting from the physiological and psychological animal-human connection.
For many Veterans, the experience goes far beyond learning dog training techniques. Working side by side toward a shared goal fosters trust and teamwork, creating a renewed sense of connection and purpose. Just as meaningful is the opportunity to spend time with fellow Veterans in an environment that feels welcoming, supportive, and grounded in something positive.
Together, these sessions demonstrate how collaboration can amplify impact — creating new interventions for engagement, healing and connection. Learn more about how you can get involved with either of these organizations by visiting: www.woundedwarriorproject.org and www.warriorcanineconnection.org.
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