ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — This Veterans Day, First Coast News is once again joining forces with K9s for Warriors in a significant fundraising effort dedicated to a crucial mission: saving the lives of our veterans who have bravely served the nation.

K9s For Warriors, situated in Ponte Vedra Beach, specializes in training and matching service dogs with military veterans who require their assistance.

First Coast News will be broadcasting live throughout the morning from K9s for Warriors headquarters, ready to take calls from community members starting at 6 a.m.

Over the past 10 years, this collaboration has successfully raised $4.8 million, transforming countless lives. Just last year, more than $1.3 million was contributed, enabling 43 veterans to be paired with 43 service dogs.

This year, we’re confident we can hit $1 million again.

*Provided by K9s for Warriors

• The organization was founded in 2011 by Shari Duval, a mother who saw how a Service Dog benefited her son, who had returned from civilian duty in Iraq
• It costs between $25,000 to $40,000 to train a service dog for a veteran with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and/or military sexual trauma, although K9s provides the service dog at no cost to the veteran
• Each month, roughly a dozen veterans arrive at K9s For Warriors campus in Ponte Vedra and spend three weeks bonding and learning how to use their new service dog
• Roughly 20 veterans die by suicide each day, and more than 1000 dogs are euthanized
• A majority of the dogs in the program are rescues, allowing the K9/Warrior team to build an unwavering bond that facilitates their collective healing and recovery
• In 2024, 138 warriors graduated with service dogs
• For the dogs that aren’t quite cut out for service work, they are either adopted out to loving families or trained to be therapy dogs for first responders and law enforcement – the dogs never go back to shelters