Paws, Pride and Celebration: WCC Honors the Class of 2026

Warrior Canine Connection proudly celebrated its class of 2026 on September 26—and what a weekend it was! This year’s celebration honored 20 incredible assistance dogs and the Veterans, military families, volunteers and supporters who helped them reach this milestone.

The festivities got underway the day before graduation with the 6th annual Ruff Mudder, a fun, obstacle-style course where Veterans and their dogs walked, ran and tackled challenges together on the grounds of the scenic Healing Quarters. With plenty of teamwork, laughter, muddy paws and smiles along the way, it was the perfect kickoff to graduation weekend.

Later that evening, it was the annual EPW Happy Hour, a celebration hosted by WCC’s Extreme Puppy Watchers—the incredible volunteers who support the organization with every fiber of their being all year long. The event brought together EPWs, friends and supporters for a lively night of food, drinks, and incredible raffle items, all in support of WCC’s mission. And, in true EPW fashion, the group turned the celebration into an extraordinary fundraiser, raising a whopping $30,000 for WCC. We couldn’t be more grateful for their unwavering support, generosity and dedication to our Veterans and the dogs who serve them.

The following Saturday morning, the celebration continued online with WCC’s virtual graduation ceremony, which shared the inspiring stories of this year’s graduates and the journeys that brought them to this milestone. The ceremony celebrated the Veterans, volunteers and dogs at the heart of WCC’s mission and gave supporters near and far a chance to join in the celebration.

Shortly afterward, hundreds of members of the WCC community gathered in person at WCC’s Healing Quarters, traveling from near and far to celebrate this year’s graduates. Guests enjoyed delicious food from Mission BBQ, music from DJ Modern Music Box, putt-putt golf sponsored by Puppies & Golf and plenty of other activities. But the biggest highlight was simply being together and celebrating the incredible accomplishments of this year’s class.

From Veterans and their families to WCC’s Extreme Puppy Watchers (EPWs), Puppy Raisers, volunteers, staff and supporters, it truly took a village to make this special day possible. Every dog, every graduate and every milestone represent the dedication of a community that believes in the life-changing power of the human-canine bond.

Congratulations to WCC’s Class of 2026! And a huge thank-you to everyone who helped make this year’s graduation—and this unforgettable weekend—possible. We couldn’t do it without you!

Missed the virtual ceremony or want to watch it again? You can enjoy the video on-demand here.
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