Leashes of Valor

“We make a difference in the lives of veterans,” so when we learned about the non-profit organizations that
train service dogs, we looked into Leashes of Valor. They offered us another way to reach out to our veterans who have serious challenges,” said Dan Bullis, Vice President of Patient Services and Warrior/Family Support.

Leashes of Valor was founded in 2017 by retired Marine Corps Capt. Jason Haag, who suffered from severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress following three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Though he tried many treatments, it was a service dog named Axel that ultimately changed Haag’s life. “I wanted to give that gift to others,” Haag said. Since its founding, Leashes of Valor has successfully pairedmore than 30 dogs with veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and other “unseen wounds” of their
military service. Though Axel passed away in January 2022, his legacy lives on at Axel’s Place, Leashes of Valor’s 10-acre property in Fredericksburg, Va. Leashes of Valor’s motto is One Leash Saves Two Lives—the life of a veteran and the life of a dog. That’s because whenever possible, canines that enter into the program come from shelters and rescue groups or are owner surrenders. An estimated 3.2 million dogs are euthanized in the United States every year.

Service dogs share a common, important thread with those in the military. Intense training is required and key to a successful partnership with the veteran. Service dogs train for up to two years before they are paired with a veteran. The veteran then spends 10 days at Axel’s Place learning how to work with their new service dog. The success, the positive influence each service dog has had on the veterans, is impressive. The Leashes of Valor website has photos and testimony from many veterans that capture and
communicate the close attachment, the bonding between the veteran and their dog. The WRS Board of Directors voted to support Leashes of Valor with a significant donation of $100,000, which covers all costs associated with the two year process of raising and training four service dogs including food, veterinary care, transportation, training, and other expenses. “We are humbled and grateful for this tremendous donation,” said Chris Bowers, program director for Leashes of Valor and a retired Marine who lost his leg in a bomb blast in Iraq. Bowers credits his service dog with helping him reintegrate into society after the catastrophic injury.

“This tremendous donation will truly change the lives of veterans who carry the scars of their service—whether visible or invisible,”
Bowers said. “But it doesn’t end there. These dogs have a ripple effect. They allow veterans to reconnect with their families and
take active roles in their communities again.” As part of its sponsorship Leashes of Valor has invited the WRS to name the four dogs
to honor those who have given so much to their country, through their work with the military medical community. Words of the organization at “One Leash Saves Two Lives” summarize this important and valuable effort.