Today is National Dog Day — a day to celebrate the special bond between people and their four-legged friends. But for some veterans, that bond can be life-changing. Warrior Canine Connection trains veterans to help train service dogs for other veterans — creating a unique connection that can help with the recovery process. Watch the full story from LiveNOW from Fox here.
After 25 years of military service, Army Veteran George Hinojos thought he had left the battlefield behind. Instead, he found himself facing a different fight.
“I couldn’t see the difference in myself, but everyone else could,” George said. “People kept asking, ‘What happened to the old George?'”
After retiring in 2012, George was diagnosed with PTSD. Anxiety, isolation and nightmares slowly replaced the outgoing leader he had always been. While treatment through the VA helped, he knew he needed something more.
That turning point came through Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).
“I was prideful and thought I could fix it myself,” George said. “But when I finally reached out, they were such a blessing.”
WWP became far more than another program. It became a community that helped George rediscover connection, purpose and hope. Through peer support groups, retreats and wellness programs, he found himself surrounded by fellow Veterans who truly understood what he was experiencing. He and his wife, Brandie, have participated in everything from healthy living and relationship retreats to Soldier Ride, building friendships and learning practical tools that continue to support their lives together.
“The biggest benefit was being around other Veterans who faced the same struggles,” George said. “Once you attend an event, you feel more comfortable and excited about all the other resources that are available.”
It was through one of those Veteran connections that George was introduced to Warrior Canine Connection. After meeting another Veteran whose service dog had transformed his life, George knew he had found his next step.
From the moment he was paired with service dog Lindsey, it was clear they belonged together.
“I didn’t know she was my match, but as soon as I walked into the room, she knew it,” George recalled. “She’s been my companion ever since. She’s like my shadow—in a good way.”
Lindsey does more than accompany George. She wakes him from nightmares, senses when anxiety begins to build and helps him refocus before difficult moments take over.
“I wouldn’t go to a mall or restaurant before,” he said. “Now I feel safe knowing she’s there. She refocuses my purpose in life.”
She also has a personality that’s impossible not to love. A brindle bundle of energy, Lindsey is a favorite everywhere they go. Children ask to pet her, friends spoil her with belly rubs, and if George arrives somewhere without her, people immediately ask, “Where’s Lindsey?”
These days, it’s hard to keep up with either of them.
Living near the beach in Biloxi, Mississippi, George and Lindsey start every morning with a run. They’re active in a local running club, participate in multiple 5Ks each month, volunteer at Veteran events and enjoy camping adventures with George and Brandie.
Most importantly, George has turned his healing into service.
“My goal now is to help other Veterans,” he said. “There’s no such thing as being ‘cured.’ I know what it’s like to be in the dark.”
His advice is simple: don’t go it alone.
“Find other Veterans. We cried, we laughed and we built relationships,” said George. “That’s how I found Wounded Warrior Project, and it led me to Warrior Canine Connection. Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is let someone help you.”
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Yellow lab “TJ” will spend the season with the Commanders before becoming a service dog for veterans
Washington, DC – Today, the Washington Commanders, with help from partner Redwire (N YSE: RDW), welcome their newest, furriest member to the organization. TJ, a 12-week-old yellow Labrador Retriever puppy, will spend the upcoming season with the Burgundy & Gold while he works on his basic skills and commands in training to become a service dog for veterans.
TJ joins the team through the Commanders’ partnership with Redwire (NYSE: RDW), founded on a shared commitment to honoring service members, veterans, and their families. Together, the organizations will collaborate on year-round programming to recognize the sacrifices of those who have served our country.
The team dog program serves as a military engagement effort both through TJ’s
ongoing service dog training and his name, which honors the call sign of Army Veteran and Redwire employee Jeremy White.
EDITOR’S NOTE: For digital assets of TJ, including photos with Jeremy White, click here. Credit can be attributed to the Washington Commanders.
The team dog’s name is inspired by Jeremy White, Sr. Program Manager at Redwire, whose military call sign was “TJ1”. A former Green Beret and decorated veteran whose life reflects a deep commitment to service, Jeremy spent more than 21 years in the U.S. Army, enlisting after September 11, 2001. His career
included roles with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and the Fifth Special Forces Group – designations reserved for the most capable and dedicated soldiers. Across deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Syria, he bravely led missions and guided his teams through challenging environments, earning recognition s such as Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Best Warrior. He
later served internationally as a liaison officer with the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense in Cyprus. Following his military career, Jeremy has continued his service as a civilian, supporting disaster relief and community initiatives.
TJ is a yellow Lab from Warrior Canine Connection, a Maryland nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering those who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while in service to our country through their Warriors helping Warriors philosophy. Through their Mission Based Trauma
Recovery program, service members and veterans in recovery can learn to train service dogs, creating a therapeutic environment while preparing animals to support fellow veterans. As he continues his training, TJ’s experiences with the Commanders will help prepare him for his future role as a service
dog.
Fans can expect to see TJ cheering on the Commanders at numerous events throughout the season, including training camp and select home games . He will also join the team for several community activations with a focus on military engagements, providing meaningful moments of connection with service members, veterans, and fans.
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After 21 years in the U.S. Navy Retired Senior Chief Petty Officer Kenneth Coppage thought he understood resilience. He retired in 2010 after decades of service to others, but life after the military brought challenges he never could have anticipated.
Severe spinal injuries eventually left him permanently disabled, resulting in chronic pain, mobility limitations and the day-to-day challenges of navigating life using a wheelchair for mobility. Through it all, both Wounded Warrior Project and Warrior Canine Connection became vital sources of support for Ken and his family.
“WWP has been great for us,” Ken said. “They’ve helped me, they’ve helped my wife. They’ve connected us with VA resources, supported us through navigating home modifications to make our living space more accessible, and there have been programs for the kids. Early on, I couldn’t do much, but the support they’ve given my wife as a caregiver has been huge.”
Ken’s wife, Cristine, left her career as a firefighter with Montgomery County, Maryland, to help care for him full-time. Through WWP’s Independence Program and caregiver support services, she received the support she needed, and the family found resources to help navigate VA benefits, home modifications and the transition into a new way of life.
Beyond his family and recovery journey, Ken has also found grounding in a long-standing personal passion: genealogy. He spends time tracing family history and helping piece together ancestral lines, including connections reaching back to the American Revolution. For him, it’s a meaningful way to stay engaged in storytelling, history and the idea that every life is part of something larger.
Years later, another breakthrough came unexpectedly through dogs.
Although Ken had always loved dogs, his connection to WCC deepened after one of his children began volunteering there. He attended orientation alongside his son and learned about WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) program, which enlists Veterans in recovery to help train service dogs for their fellow Warriors.
“And it was fantastic,” Ken said. “The interactions with the dogs at WCC also helped with my pain management, to the point where I could start doing a little bit more.”
That connection extended beyond WCC’s campus. Ken said the program has strengthened his bond with his Newfoundland, Gucci, at home while also helping him continue building his dog-handling and training skills.
That “little bit more” became something much bigger.
“Now I’m able to spend more time with my family, with the dogs and I can do a few other things throughout the week,” he said. “To go from, ‘I can’t do anything by myself’—virtually no independence—to there’s so much stuff I want to do. I can do more than I’ve been able to do in 15 years. It’s been a saga.”
Today, Ken participates in independent handling sessions at WCC, spending one-on-one time with service dogs in training through enrichment, grooming, play and affection. He’s also on the waitlist for a service dog of his own.
“The more time I spend with the dogs, the better,” he said. “The Labs give so much of themselves to you. You can feel the difference after spending time with them.”
For Ken, the journey continues—one built on family, perseverance and the healing power of connection.
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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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RICHMOND, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) — The Sitter and Barfoot Veterans Care Center is one place that believes in the special bond that pets bring. Watch the full story on CBS 19 News here.
For Trey Keen, connection came first through dogs — and then through paint. A Marine Corps Veteran who served eight years as a helicopter crew chief, including a combat deployment to Afghanistan, Trey was introduced to Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) through the Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) program at the Philadelphia VA. What started as an eight-week commitment quickly became something more.
When the two-month program ended, Trey wasn’t ready to step away. He continued participating at WCC’s Philly program site at the University of Pennsylvania — and more than a year later, he’s still showing up.
“I like the premise of it, it’s an opportunity to help other Veterans,” Trey said. “There’s no better group than working with dogs. It’s really cool to know that in the long run these dogs are going to go on to help a Veteran in some shape or form.”
That sense of purpose mirrors what Trey experiences every day with his own service dog, Frankie, a three-year-old German Shepherd. While Frankie was trained through another organization, her impact on Trey’s life has been profound.
“She wakes me up before nightmares start — that has been amazing,” he shared. “She does a million other things for me. I don’t think we’ve ever been apart for more than 15 minutes since I’ve had her. She goes everywhere with me — Eagles games, concerts, just everyday things. My PTSD and anxiety have gone down about 90%. She saves my life somehow every single day.”
Before Frankie, Trey avoided public spaces altogether.
“For a while, I wasn’t doing anything — not going in public or anywhere,” he said. “Now there’s really nothing I won’t do if I have her with me.”
It was through another VA program — an arts and crafts class — that Trey discovered something else unexpected: painting. He decided to try painting Frankie and surprised himself with the result. What began as a therapeutic outlet soon turned into a meaningful way to give back.
Today, Trey paints dog portraits on canvas, primarily using acrylics, and asks only one thing in return: the recipient make a donation to WCC. Over the past year, Trey has painted nearly 25 dog portraits in support of WCC. Several feature WCC dogs, including Tugger, Moon Dog Sarah, and Sam.
“It’s therapeutic,” Trey said. “I paint on an easel, and it just helps.”
His connection to WCC goes beyond the art. Trey helped train Moon Dog while involved in his first MBTR session, and he speaks warmly about the WCC staff who make the experience possible.
“Lisa and Jen (who run WCC’s program at Penn) are just incredible,” he said. “They really go above and beyond to help. I’ve seen them do things you wouldn’t expect them to do for Veterans — that’s another big reason I keep going back, they’re just incredible people.”
WCC Program Director and Service Dog Training Instructor Jennifer Desher has seen Trey’s commitment firsthand.
“From the very beginning, Trey has shown up for Warrior Canine Connection with so much heart and generosity. When he surprised Lisa and me with a portrait of Sam II and Sarah Lu after his first eight weeks with us, we were truly blown away — not just by how perfectly he captured them, but by the thoughtfulness behind the gift. Beyond his incredible talent, Trey consistently looks out for his fellow Veterans, offering rides and support whenever needed and his care for our pups is just as genuine. We’re incredibly grateful to have him as part of the WCC family.”
Through paint, patience and a deep belief in WCC’s mission, Trey continues to give back — one dog portrait at a time.
Curious about Trey’s work or interested in a custom piece? Trey is taking on additional requests and is happy to connect. You can reach him directly at soupcans11@gmail.com.
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The Central Maryland Regional Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) marks an incredible 10 years of service to our nation’s Veterans — a decade that reflects dedication, collaboration and an unwavering belief that recovery is possible when a community shows up with support and compassion. This milestone is a testament to the court’s impact and the many people who have helped make its achievements possible.
Founded in 2015 by Senior District Court Judge Halee F. Weinstein, the program has helped hundreds of Veterans address misdemeanor charges through mental health treatment, peer mentoring and strong community support.
“As part of volunteering to train our service dogs in training, Veterans learn the importance of having patience with not only the dogs, but also with themselves,” said Kayla Prince, WCC Veteran training program coordinator. “We work on ‘rewarding more to correct less,’ which encourages focusing on positive moments in training and in life.”
Since launching MBTR in partnership with the Central Maryland Regional VTC, 85 Veterans have participated, contributing a total of 894 hours in WCC’s service dog training programs. Their work has supported 126 WCC service dogs in training who have participated in the program to date.
“The partnership with the Veterans Treatment Court and Warrior Canine Connection has been instrumental in helping veterans to heal and get their lives back on track,” said Baltimore City District Court Senior Judge Halee F. Weinstein. “Through helping to train service dogs, the veterans are learning new skills while also helping themselves and others, which benefits everyone in the program.”
For many Veterans, working with the dogs becomes a meaningful part of their routine — offering structure, building confidence and inciting laughter on tough days. Trainers often notice positive changes before the Veterans themselves do.
WCC is honored to partner with the court and play a small part in its success and impact on Veterans. We’re grateful for everyone who helps make this work possible — Judge Weinstein, the court team, mentors, the VA, United Way of Central Maryland, public defenders, prosecutors, community partners, and most of all, the Veterans whose commitment has helped advance the training of several WCC dogs.
Here’s to an extraordinary decade — and to even more lives changed in the years ahead.
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It’s something Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) has long seen in action: working with service dogs can make a meaningful difference in a Veteran’s healing. Now, research from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and the University of Maryland (UMD) is backing that up with hard data, showing that service dog training can improve health outcomes — and may even slow cellular aging for female Veterans with post-traumatic stress (PTS).
Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the study was conducted from 2018 through 2022 and tracked female Veterans as they participated in an eight-week service dog training program. Researchers collected physiological data at the start, middle and end of the program, including heart-rate variability, saliva samples and continuous monitoring of both participants and their dogs. The goal? To see how hands-on interaction with service dogs affects stress, wellbeing and overall health.
WCC supported the hands-on portion of the study through its Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) program, which helps Veterans learn to train service dogs for their fellow Warriors. While the control group viewed training videos, Veterans in WCC’s eight-week MBTR program worked directly with a service dog, building consistency and trust by partnering with the same dog each week. WCC also managed the monitoring equipment throughout the study, enabling the UMD and FAU research teams to focus on data collection and analysis.
The study also involved support from multiple researchers and collaborating institutions who helped design the methodology and capture the physiological data that made these findings possible. Together, the teams at FAU, UMD and WCC demonstrated how meaningful, hands-on service dog training through MBTR can be for female Veterans’ mental and physical wellbeing.
This hands-on approach not only generated valuable data but also highlighted meaningful impacts for participants. Mar Leifeld, assistant director of MBTR programs at WCC, who helped coordinate the organization’s involvement, noted one significant outcome: “We saw participants who might not usually seek out services for themselves get involved just to help with the study. Many have continued long after the research ended, forming lasting connections through our programs.”
The results make clear what WCC has always known: service dog training isn’t just a program — it’s a pathway to resilience, connection and lasting health benefits. And thanks to this collaborative research, the broader Veteran community can now see the measurable impact for themselves.
To learn more about WCC’s MBTR programming, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.
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At Jessup Correctional Institution in Maryland, the sound of wagging tails signals something remarkable—healing, growth and purpose taking shape behind prison walls. The partnership between Warrior Canine Connection and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services is making a meaningful impact throughout the facility.
Eight WCC dogs (WCC’s Chappy, Rock, Matt, Thomas, Miller, Oscar, VJ and Stan) currently call JCI home. These hopeful future service dogs are raised and trained by incarcerated Veterans and other incarcerated volunteers, along with furlough Puppy Raisers, through WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) program.
WCC’s MBTR program teaches Veterans how to work with service dogs in training, which fulfills a time-honored military tradition of Warriors helping Warriors. In the process, the Veteran can also benefit from skills development in communication, confidence building, accountability, emotional regulation and patience to promote an act of service while receiving a therapeutic benefit.
“Seeing the service dog training program take root at JCI has been incredibly impactful,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “It’s not only helping incarcerated Veterans build new skills and purpose but empowering them to help others through the dogs they train. It’s become a true win-win partnership that changes lives on both ends of the leash.”
Each week, WCC instructor Val Skinner leads classes that teach handlers and dogs trust, patience and responsibility. The program mirrors military structure, with participants advancing through ranks as their skills grow. Dogs live in the cells with their handlers — two men and one dog per cell — fostering deep bonds, shared care and accountability.
“The collaboration between DPSCS and the Warrior Canine Connection stands as a powerful model of rehabilitation through service,” said Carolyn J. Scruggs, Secretary of Public Safety & Correctional Services. “By training future service dogs, our participants gain invaluable skills and, most importantly, a renewed capacity for empathy and responsibility. This unique work extends its positive impact far beyond the facility walls—it builds confidence, fosters compassion, and directly supports the long-term success of participants reentering the community. Ultimately, this program helps heal two populations at once, preparing individuals for a productive future and delivering life-changing support to the Veterans they serve.”
And the voices of those involved show just how deeply it’s making an impact.
One handler shared, “I joined to help my fellow brothers and sisters who are suffering with PTSD, I want to contribute while incarcerated so I can try to repair some of the pain I caused. Free or incarcerated, I am still a veteran, and I will continue to help where I can.”
Another participant reflected, “This is the first time in many years I’ve gotten to care for something besides myself.”
A different participant added, “Aside from giving back to the community, I also knew it would help me with my own personal anxiety/PTSD issues.”
One Veteran trainer noted, “Warrior Canine Connection has given me more purpose in life and has given me the opportunity to give back to my fellow veteran community” — proof that this partnership is about much more than dog training.
“It is good to give back to our communities, with the suicide rate of veterans on the rise these support dogs can make a significant difference. Not only does this program purposeful but it also gives the dogs purpose, WCC is a great program, and it helps people across the board,” shared another trainer.
Furthermore, participants often stay involved across multiple dog placements, earning certificates of achievement and even letters of recommendation for parole consideration.
“The commitment I see from the Veterans is amazing. They take real pride in the dogs and what they’re doing for others,” said Skinner.
Even those not directly involved feel the program’s impact. Onlookers from the yard next to the outdoor training area often line up along the fence to watch the puppies at work and play. “It’s contagious — the positivity spreads throughout the facility,” shared Skinner.
A new puppy will soon join the Jessup pack as WCC’s Rock graduates from the program to continue advanced training toward becoming a certified service dog.
Funds from Boeing and the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families help make this program possible.
Nearly three years into their collaboration, WCC and Jessup have created a powerful example of transformation through service — changing lives, fostering hope and strengthening communities, one paw at a time.
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Warrior Canine Connection
is a 501(c)(3)
Nonprofit Organization
# 45-2981579