An american flag is flying in a field at sunset.

US War Dogs’ Org Update – Q3, 2025

 

As is our custom, War Dogs president Chris Willingham has penned an overview of what the organization has been up to over the summer months. As always, it’s been a busy one, so strap in and let’s get into it…


What’s going on, K-9 fam?! I hope you have all had a great summer and feel ready to enjoy some cooler temperatures as we move into the fall. The team and I have been grinding and doing our thing to support K-9s – active and retired, while supporting the wider community by attending events and spreading the good word of US War Dogs.


War Dogs Support



We were honored to welcome 41 new retired MWDs to our Rx Program and take care of over $34,799 worth of medications. Our Specialized Care program has evolved to cover the cost of certain long term treatments for RMWDs and Emergency Care program, which covers the cost of surgeries and emergency treatment, has continued to gather pace too: We covered $44,690 of treatments for 19 retired dogs across these two key programs, during the quarter. These initiatives are making a real difference to the lives of retired K-9s and their adopted families – we absolutely love hearing all the positive feedback about the programs and feel truly honored that we can play a practical role in caring for our K-9 heroes.

We are honored to have US Air Force MWD Dex join the Rx Program


We were also honored to issue 11 US War Dogs Service Awards to K-9 retirees. The award is our way of saying thank you to our nation’s MWDs for their service to our nation and provide their handlers and families with a last memento of their MWD. If you have a retired MWD and would like them to receive an award, click here.


Finally, we supported nine families as they said farewell to their retired MWDs, through our Rainbow Bridge Assistance program, ensuring that dignity and respect is extended to our K-9 heroes, to the very end of their lives.


Planning Our Birthday Celebrations


The last three months has been very busy with adding the details and final touches to US War Dogs’ 25th anniversary celebrations in San Antonio, TX, on 17 October. The guest list is confirmed, the program has been finalized and now all that remains is for everyone attending to come together and enjoy everything! If you can’t make it, don’t worry. We’ll keep everyone up to speed on our social media channels and of course, in our newsletter!


War Dogs Volunteer Kim is an Air Force Lifer!


US War Dogs volunteer Kim Roberson enjoyed a very special day back in July when she completed her indefinite reenlistment with the US Air Force. Kim, who is kennel master for the Air Force in Alaska, was joined by her two adopted retired MWDs Sony and Jocky, who provided their own style of celebration to the occasion.



Congratulations on your reenlistment and thank you for your service, Miss Kim!

US War Dogs volunteer Kim Roberson at her indefinite reenlistment ceremony in July


Marking 9/11 with the US Navy


Patriots Day is an important date in the calendar and this year, I was invited to a special ceremony at the Virginia Beach Naval Shipyard, where service personnel, families and dignitaries gathered to mark the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I was asked to share my experiences as a combat deployed dog handler and how the events on 9/11 shaped my military career and the lives of me and my family. I was also able to speak about the troops and dogs I served alongside, remembering in particular, those K-9 brothers who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. You can read more about the event and its attendees by clicking here.


MARSOC MPC Program Divestment


The official closure of the Marine Corps Force Special Operations Command (MARSOC) multi purpose canine program took place on 5 September and former members of the unit, fellow US War Dogs board member, Alex Schnell and I attended the divestment ceremony at the Corporal David M. Sonka Multi-Purpose Canine Facility in North Carolina.


The program stood for 17 incredibly busy years, with K-9s and handlers representing some of the most comprehensive elite forces that the US military has to offer. The event honored the unit’s legacy and also stood as an opportunity to officially retire the last MPCs in the program: Buzi, Jakob, ReXs, Rik, Tessie and Thor. US War Dogs was honored to provide MWD Service Awards for each of the retiring MPCs, which were presented by retiring officer, Captain Carthen.


MPC handler Cpl David Sonka – who was KIA in Afghanistan – was represented by his dad, Kevin, who addressed the gathering and spoke about what being in MARSOC meant to his son.


I was fortunate to serve as MPC program manager from 2017-2019 and will always be grateful for my time in MARSOC. Alex Schnell and his MPC Bass, helped to fly the flag for MARSOC when Bass received the PDSA Dickin Medal in 2022, in recognition for his heroism and devotion to duty. 


The event provided a great chance for current and former members of the MPC community to come together and enjoy some much-welcomed brotherhood and fellowship, although we all felt a deep sense of sadness as we reflected on the program closure. Semper Fi.

Current and former members gathered for MARSOC’s Multi Purpose Canine Program divestment ceremony


A huge thank you!


Finally, before I close out this quarter’s update, I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported US War Dogs over the last quarter: From the customers of Pet Supermarket who bought treats to support us as part of the Lend a Paw campaign, to all those who have sent checks, made online donations or shared our content on social media. We are grateful for all of you and I want to say a personal thank you for helping us to continue our vital work. We literally can’t do what we do without you!



Thank you and K-9 leads the way!

Making a Stand for K-9

October 4, 2025
Making a Stand for K-9 When second year law student Robert Finkbeiner was drafted to join the war effort in Vietnam, he had no idea what was in store for him and the impact that his combat deployment would have on the rest of his life. US War Dogs was honored to speak to Robert about his service and how he used his unique skillset in fierce defence of military K-9s, whose sad plight we know all-too well. Robert’s son David, reached out to us to feature his dad’s story – we are so grateful for the chance to share his experiences.

In Conversation With… US Army Veterinarian, Jim Giles

July 2, 2025
In Conversation With… US Army Veterinarian, Jim Giles The K-9 community is blessed to have a richness and diversity of the skillsets within it – and this is something that we at US War Dogs is always keen to spotlight. In this interview, we were honored to chat with former US Army Veterinarian, Jim Giles, about his career that spanned the height of Operation Enduring Freedom.  Jim helps us to peer behind the surgical curtain of what life was truly like for the professionals who were charged with saving our injured MWDs in military theater. He also introduces us to one of the MWDs whose story he is honored to be part of.

Q2 2025: Talking War Dogs

July 2, 2025
Talking War Dogs Q2, 2025 Update As we bid farewell to another busy three months, it’s my pleasure to give you a round-up of what we’ve been up to: From support provided to our active duty and retired K-9s, to spreading the good word of War Dogs at events and supporting important fundraising efforts that help us to continue our vital mission… Read all about it, right here! Supporting our MWDs Delivering our vital programs of support to our active duty and retired MWDs is at the very heart of what we do. Our team of volunteers help to facilitate life-saving veterinary care through our Emergency Care Program; sign up new dogs to the Rx prescription medications program and much more. During April, May and June we saw: 30 new Rx sign-ups Supported 19 dogs through our Emergency Care program, to the tune of $24,000 Sent out 13 MWD Service Awards, in grateful thanks and recognition for a career of service to our nation Supported six families through our Rainbow Bridge Assistance program, covering the cost of euthanasia, cremation and providing personalized urns to the families who wanted them We also spent in excess of $38,000 on Rx medications over the last quarter, alleviating the financial burden for the families of our retired MWDs and making sure they get the meds they need to stay happy and healthy. For every person and business who supports our mission, know that you are part of something very special!

US War Dogs In Conversation With… National Service Animals Memorial Founder, Chair and Sculptor, Susan Bahary

March 29, 2025
US War Dogs In Conversation With… National Service Animals Memorial Founder, Chair and Sculptor, Susan Bahary

Q1 2025: US War Dogs Highlights

March 29, 2025
Q1 2025: US War Dogs Highlights Our 25th birthday year has gotten off to a flying start and our president, Chris Willingham, has compiled a look back over the last three months’ activities and what our team has achieved, in service to the K-9 community. What’s going on, K-9 fam?! I hope that the first quarter of 2025 has treated you and your families well. We are so excited to finally be in our birthday year, which we knew was going to be one of our biggest and busiest yet, as we have been planning some epic ways to celebrate this incredible organization’s milestone. We weren’t wrong – it’s been a great start and we are pumped for the next chapter in this journey to the big 25. But along with all the birthday preparations (more on that shortly), our business-as-usual work to support military working dogs – active and retired – continues at a pace. We were thrilled to sign 31 new retirees up to our Rx program – giving them access to the medications they need – and all funded by US War Dogs. Overall, we provided meds totaling over $35,000 .

Your War Dogs Store

March 29, 2025
Your War Dogs Store

A Final Update for 2024!

December 28, 2024
A Final Update for 2024! The last three months of 2024 have been action-packed, with US War Dogs’ suite of programs providing well-deserved support for our K-9 community. A busy final quarter means that the overall care we’ve been able to provide this year has been incredible! Let’s dig into the details… Supporting Our Retired K-9 Heroes We’ve signed up 91 new retired MWDs to our Rx program and spent over $167,000 on treatments through our Emergency Care program. We are particularly proud of this program, as it was developed in response to the need arising from within the community and through conversations with handlers and adoptive families about the challenges they face.  Since rolling out this program last year, we’ve not seen a single Go Fund Me page for retired MWDs, needing support with treatments. This is something we are exceptionally proud of. Read more about some of the recipients of care through the program, like Rex, SSeneca and Gunner.

In Conversation With… US Army dog handler and Purple Heart recipient, Alec Alcoser

December 28, 2024
In Conversation With… US Army dog handler and Purple Heart recipient, Alec Alcoser

War Dogs Turns 25!

September 27, 2024
War Dogs Turns 25! As our big birthday year fast approaches, we have some very special dates for your calendar in 2025, as we look forward to celebrating our quarter-century in epic style.

War Dogs Summer

September 27, 2024
War Dogs Summer Our president, Chris Willingham, takes a look back at our work and our impact across July, August and September.  The last three months have been super busy for US War Dogs. Our vital support for the K-9 community continues to increase as word spreads further about who we are and what we do. We love nothing more than signing up new retired MWDs to our Rx Program and providing vital support when dogs and their families need it most, and this last quarter has been no exception. We were thrilled to welcome 18 new dogs to our Rx Program this quarter, including US Navy patrol and explosive detection dog (PEDD) Ivo, who retired with his former handler, Dan. Notorious as being the most aggressive dog in the kennels at NAS Lemoore, CA, six-year-old Ivo has become the model house dog in retirement, lounging and enjoying meeting new people. Ivo was retired with lumbar-spinal stenosis, so the provision of medications through the Rx Program will really help alleviate the financial burden for Dan and his family. Welcome to the pack, Ivo!