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June 2025 Spotlight: Northwest Battle Buddies

June 2025 Spotlight: Northwest Battle Buddies

by 4Knines Staff in 4Knines Blog Home Page

A Mission Born from Service and Compassion

Image credit: Northwest Battle Buddies

 

Northwest Battle Buddies (NWBB) is dedicated to supporting Veterans in their journey toward healing and recovery by providing them with professionally trained service dogs.

Founded in 2012 by Shannon Walker, Northwest Battle Buddies was born from a heartfelt desire to address the unique challenges Veterans face after serving in the armed forces. Many Veterans struggle with issues such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression, which can profoundly impact their quality of life. NWBB matches these Veterans with service dogs specially trained to provide comfort and support, helping restore a sense of purpose and belonging.


Trained Dogs, Transformed Lives

Shannon’s extensive experience as a dog trainer, combined with her deep understanding of canine behavior, revealed how uniquely equipped dogs are to help humans during times of need. Her father, Glenn Walker, served in the Korean War as an Airman 2nd Class and instilled in her a lasting message of patriotism and service. Every NWBB service dog undergoes five months of intensive training, followed by 160 hours of in-person instruction with their paired Veteran.

To date, NWBB has transformed the lives of over 270 Veterans living with PTSD by providing them with loyal and highly trained canine partners. Their mission is especially urgent given the heartbreaking statistic that 20 Veterans die by suicide each day in the United States—often due to the unrelenting toll of PTSD.

 

A Life-Changing Partnership: Nick and Jazz

One powerful story that highlights NWBB’s impact features a Veteran named Nick and his service dog, Jazz. After returning from Iraq, Nick faced intense struggles adjusting to civilian life and turned to medication and alcohol to cope. Everything changed when he connected with NWBB and was paired with Jazz.

“It’s better than any medication I’ve ever been on,” Nick said.

Jazz not only provides daily emotional support but has also helped Nick re-engage with the world. Nick now shares his journey with others to show what’s possible when Veterans are given the tools to thrive.

 

Ongoing Support and Community Involvement

In addition to placing service dogs, NWBB provides essential support such as ongoing health checks and wellness care for both the dogs and their Veteran partners. Every dog is spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated, and receives any necessary medical treatment to ensure long-term well-being.

Community involvement is at the heart of NWBB’s success. The organization encourages support through donations, volunteering, or fostering service dogs in training. These contributions help extend their reach and change more lives.

 

4Knines Proudly Supports Northwest Battle Buddies

4Knines is proud to feature Northwest Battle Buddies in our Monthly Spotlight. Each month, we donate both products and a monetary contribution to a nonprofit making a difference in the lives of pets and their people. We are honored to support NWBB's mission and the Veterans they serve.

 


Tags: charity spotlight
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