Together We Can Make a Difference
Our mission is to train PTSD service dogs for 1st responders from strays.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization,92-3277728
Help Our Cause
A FEW BASICS ABOUT OUR KENNELS
Pets vs PTSD dogs
It takes a special mutt to be a PTSD dog. Some dogs are great pets, but not cut out for this work.
The dogs we assign to this category are healthy, rehabilitated and trainable.
They are just not considered candidates for PTSD work for various reasons.
The Foundation
All of our pups have been in a home that has a "working dog" structure for between 6 months to a year. Dogs are confident and understand the rules. No dog aggression is tolerated. They are loved. After 6-9 months, the foundation is there for a PTSD dog if the dog has the talent. They are then given public access training. Next, we wait for them to be selected by a 1st responder to complete their training.
Volunteer With Us
We need volunteers to help us run our programs effectively. We have very specific protocols. Please reach out if you would like to work with us.
MEET OUR DOGS
Dutchess Wigglebottom-RTR Xfer
Dutchess Wigglebottom-RTR Xfer
Dutchess Wigglebottom-RTR Xfer
Dutchess is a typical Boxer, and a handful. She is NOT a PTSD dog candidate. She is energetic, fun and goofy. She was a starving mama in the road a year ago. She is available for adoption as a pet.
Frannie Floof-ADOPTED!
Dutchess Wigglebottom-RTR Xfer
Dutchess Wigglebottom-RTR Xfer
Frannie is an extraordinary pup. She got all the brains for the whole litter. She has fantastic PTSD dog potential. She is available for selection as a PTSD dog candidate.
Franz Floof- R2R Xfer
Dutchess Wigglebottom-RTR Xfer
GemmaRae-ADOPTED/PTSD svc dog
Franz is a lovely pup who lacks the maturity to decide his best job niche. He is sweet and obedient, but we are still deciding where his best life will be.
GemmaRae-ADOPTED/PTSD svc dog
GemmaRae-ADOPTED/PTSD svc dog
GemmaRae-ADOPTED/PTSD svc dog
GemmaRae is a 3 year old black german shepherd. She came from a rescue in Oklahoma and was a street dog. She is a solid prospect for a PTSD job.
Greta-ADOPTED
GemmaRae-ADOPTED/PTSD svc dog
Hans Floof R2R XFER
Greta is a docile "german shepherd lite." Meaning really toned down for a GSD. She doesnt want any trouble. She was rescued in the rain about 9 months ago utterly defeated. She has come a long way. She has PTSD dog potential.
Hans Floof R2R XFER
GemmaRae-ADOPTED/PTSD svc dog
Hans Floof R2R XFER
Hans is a very nice boy who is not super bright. He makes up for this with joy and gentle play. He is available for adoption as a pet.
Henry-ADOPTED
Sandy Floof-R2R XFER
Katie R2R XFER
Henry is smart as a whip and ready to work. He gets bored and needs an active handler. He has lots of PTSD dog potential and is ready for training. He was dumped at a nearby restaurant a year ago.
Katie R2R XFER
Sandy Floof-R2R XFER
Katie R2R XFER
Katie is the sweetest girl! She is docile and very loving. She has a lot of PTSD dog potential and is ready for selection for training.
Sandy Floof-R2R XFER
Sandy Floof-R2R XFER
Sandy Floof-R2R XFER
Sandy is a Catahoula/Husky/pit mixes. Est birthday is 2/1/23. She is very sweet and very shy. She is too timid to be a PTSD dog, but she will make a lovely pet in a quiet home. She is docile. Available for adoption as a pet.
Xena-ADOPTED PTSD svc dog
Xena arrived 9/23 and needs time to adjust. She is a handful and is learning to be calm. This one will be a fabulous PTSD dog. She is not available yet.
Ellie- Core packmember
Marleyanne - core pack member
Harley - core pack member
Ellie is a dog Lorie had prior to starting this venture. She is 7 and a model for other dogs at the rescue. She was fully trained as a PTSD dog, then became diabetic. She is on insulin and blind. She kept working and is amazing! She is not available for adoption.
Harley - core pack member
Marleyanne - core pack member
Harley - core pack member
Harley is a tripod, but we don't know why. He was rescued like this. He is a really nice dog with lots of PTSD dog potential. We aren't sure who will hire our disabled pup, but he's not getting sold short. This is a great dog.
Marleyanne - core pack member
Marleyanne - core pack member
Marleyanne - core pack member
Marleyanne is the only dog with liberty. She is a calm presence that helps set the tone for the rescue. She was rescued from a 4-year period of freely breeding at someone's home. We rescued 4 of her last litter and had 3 survivors. She is a solid pet personality. Too old and too timid for PTSD work.
Peanut - core pack member
Peanut - core pack member
Marleyanne - core pack member
Peanut is a Chi-oodle (per his DNA). He was found in Tucumcari, New Mexico as a stray. He is a sweet boy that loves to cuddle. He is NOT PTSD dog material. He is our "small dog" tester.
Rosie ADOPTED!
Peanut - core pack member
Rosie ADOPTED!
Rosie is a lovey, smart girl with personality for days. She is very much a PTSD dog personality. Calm, sweet and mellow..
Stella
Peanut - core pack member
Rosie ADOPTED!
Stella is Marleyannes pup and a parvo survivor. Lovely sweet nature, she is available to adopt as a pet or as a PTSD dog.
Virgil - core pack member
Virgil - core pack member
Virgil - core pack member
Virgil is 2 and a sweet, fun dog. He is no Beavis (a Corgi service dog for 10 of his 14 years, RIP heartdog). Virgil will be advancing his training as his maturity level allows. He will not be available for adoption.
OUR PET ADOPTION STORIES - Comet and Mr Wiggles
OUR SUCCESS STORIES
Xara
Gemma
Xara
Xara was matched with a handler 9/2023. The handler is a retired LAPD sergeant. We work with our clients closely for a year to ensure a good match. Xena was a stray from the streets of Tulsa, Oklahoma and has come along way.
Leia
Gemma
Xara
Leia is a remote certification. Her handler is a retired LAPD supervisor and a former Marine. We are blessed to have this handler, who is also a teacher, write the program for future handlers.
Gemma
Gemma
Gemma
Gemma will be going to her handler at the end of Oct 2023. She has a fully approved application. Congrats, Gemma!
Gemma was a street dog from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is very smart and has a great sense of humor.
MEET OUR BOARD
President/Treasurer Lorie Atwater
Arno Clair, Director of Canine Policy and Procedures
Vice President/Secretary Brad DeGeus
Lorie has been in and around LA area public safety for 34 years. She has 27 years' experience running a financial services firm.
Former law enforcement and fire family, Lorie has seen it all. She works hard to help hundreds of heros. She has been training dogs for about 20 years. She is a PTSD sufferer, and an expert at this aspect of training.
Vice President/Secretary Brad DeGeus
Arno Clair, Director of Canine Policy and Procedures
Vice President/Secretary Brad DeGeus
Brad is a Coast Guard Veteran and recently retired CHP Sergeant.
A true and loyal long time friend from a family of heros, Brad is also humble and hilarious. Many of his family have served in the military. He is very well qualified to be our scribe as we write our program.
Arno Clair, Director of Canine Policy and Procedures
Arno Clair, Director of Canine Policy and Procedures
Desi Ehrlich, Director of Canine Policy and Procedures
Arno is an active duty police sergeant and Officer-In-Charge of the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Metropolitan Division K-9 Unit. Sergeant Clair has 29 years of Law Enforcement experience and has been assigned as the Officer-In-Charge of the Metropolitan K-9 unit for over 12 years. Sergeant Clair currently deploys two K-9s you do
Arno is an active duty police sergeant and Officer-In-Charge of the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Metropolitan Division K-9 Unit. Sergeant Clair has 29 years of Law Enforcement experience and has been assigned as the Officer-In-Charge of the Metropolitan K-9 unit for over 12 years. Sergeant Clair currently deploys two K-9s you do not want to meet while they are working. He is skilled in training.
Sgt Clair has multiple K-9 certifications.
Desi Ehrlich, Director of Canine Policy and Procedures
Desi Ehrlich, Director of Canine Policy and Procedures
Desi Ehrlich, Director of Canine Policy and Procedures
Desi is an active police sergeant and Officer-In-Charge of the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Gang and Narcotics Division (GND) K-9 Unit. Sergeant Ehrlich has 27 years of Law Enforcement experience and has been assigned as the Officer-In-Charge of the K-9 unit for over 7 years. Aside from Sergeant Ehrlich’s enthusiasm and passion
Desi is an active police sergeant and Officer-In-Charge of the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Gang and Narcotics Division (GND) K-9 Unit. Sergeant Ehrlich has 27 years of Law Enforcement experience and has been assigned as the Officer-In-Charge of the K-9 unit for over 7 years. Aside from Sergeant Ehrlich’s enthusiasm and passion in working with police working K-9s, he is a skilled handler.
Sergeant Ehrlich is a certified Bloodhound and detection K-9 handler and supervisor. Sergeant Ehrlich currently deploys a Narcotics Detection K-9 and a Firearms Detection K-9. He is skilled in training obedience, scent detection and Bloodhound tracking and trailing.
Sergeant Ehrlich has multiple K-9 certifications through the National Police Bloodhound Association (NPBA), National Police Canine Association (NPCA) and California Narcotics Canine Association (CNCA). Sergeant Ehrlich is a certifying official for the NPCA and is responsible for certifying numerous K-9 teams through that organization. Additionally, Sergeant Ehrlich oversaw the authoring of the most current California Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Tracking and Trailing K-9 course. Sergeant Ehrlich is also a certifying official for that California POST K-9 course.
Amanda J Hills, Director of Canine Integration Therapy
Desi Ehrlich, Director of Canine Policy and Procedures
Amanda J Hills, Director of Canine Integration Therapy
Amanda is successful family therapist in Santa Clarita, California and a PTSD expert. She promotes animal therapy, both equine and canine. Read more about her at
Lindsey Leitelt, Director of Special Projects
Desi Ehrlich, Director of Canine Policy and Procedures
Amanda J Hills, Director of Canine Integration Therapy
Lindsey is a lifelong adventurer and thrill seeker. Never one to shy away from a challenge - like founding her company WayMaker Films. She also completed 61 days surviving the African bush on Discovery channel’s Naked and Afraid and Naked and Afraid XL. She walked 500 miles across the Camino de Santiago for charity, not to mention ... nu