K9S FOR WARRIORS

The Hubbard House added a new four-legged addition to its staff for support in the emergency shelter.

U.S. Marine veteran Paul Lore, 60 of Fernandina Beach, and Mat Steinlin, 44 of St. Augustine, have teamed up again. This time for a 2,800-mile trek across the Pacific Ocean to Kauai to raise awareness and funds for K9s For Warriors and the Children’s Tumor Foundation.

Tappen graduated from K9s For Warriors three years ago. He served in the Navy for more than four years, including a nine-month combat tour before being discharged in 2011.

Two brothers on Monday completed a 2,700-mile cross-country bicycle trek, arriving at K9s For Warriors in Ponte Vedra after traveling on cycle from San Diego, California, to Vilano Beach.

Two brothers on Monday completed a 2,700-mile cross-country bicycle trek, arriving at K9s For Warriors in Ponte Vedra after traveling on cycle from San Diego, California, to Vilano Beach.

Jacksonville City Councilman Rory Diamond said Thursday he plans to step down next month as CEO of K9s for Warriors.

Agencies and nonprofits providing resources to veterans to prevent suicide say a lower suicide rate is an encouraging trend but believe there is still more work to be done.

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department has added therapy dogs, providing another way to help firefighters and dispatchers deal with the emotional trauma that can come with being a first responder.

Veterans from Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach raised more than $850,000 in their 51-day journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

The men and women who work for the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office will soon feel less stress and anxiety that come with the job -- thanks to a newly “hired” co-worker.

Determined to end veteran suicide, K9s For Warriors provides highly trained service dogs to military veterans suffering from PTSD and conditions like traumatic brain injury.

Paws-itively Jax: The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is working with K9s For Warriors to create Paws For Change.

A K9s For Warriors graduation ceremony Thursday night included a first for the organization -- a 73-year-old who is now the very first Vietnam War veteran to graduate from its program with his new service dog, Loose.

K9s for Warriors on Wednesday broke ground on a new service dog training facility.

A Jacksonville Navy veteran is turning his unique hobby into potentially a big moneymaker for K9s for Warriors.

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – K9s For Warriors donated three dogs to beaches police. Jamie is going to Jacksonville Beach police, Duke is going to Neptune Beach police and C4 is going to Atlantic Beach police. The three police departments’ new additions will be referred to as station dogs. Duke is going to the Neptune Beach Police Department. “We have a skyrocketing problem with first responder suicide, and K9s For Warriors has been watching this and we couldn’t sit on the sidelines any longer,” Diamond said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Second Lady Karen Pence and Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia visited Jacksonville on Wednesday to launch a new employee assistance program for military spouses, pet some K9s and sip some coffee. Pence spoke to military spouses at NAS Jacksonville to launch the Transition Employment Assistance for Military Spouses (TEAMS) Program. It is designed to help military spouses advance their careers through training, workshops, and networking tailored to their unique circumstances. The owner of Social Grounds, Jason Kelloway, was presented a Second Lady coin and his wife and co-owner Mandi Kelloway was given a bracelet for military spouses. Pence’s visit supports her ongoing campaign to elevate and encourage military spouses while also recognizing their unique employment challenges.

Nobody knows that better than the folks at K9 For Warriors, an organization dedicated to training shelter dogs to become service animals for veterans. They were able to share some puppy love with the residents through window visits, while the residents remained in the safety of their own rooms. “It’s a lot of joy, just to know how much the elderly mean to people,” said an emotional Deidre Strag, a K9s For Warriors trainer. “He’s hope, he’s love, he’s understanding.”Miranda said the visit was meaningful for the residents. For more information on K9s for Warriors and the nonprofit’s mission, go to www.k9sforwarriors.org.

We are kicking off Sissines Highway to Help Heroes, in Partnership with Ring Power Corp., and SAC Collective. NASCARs Stewart-Haas Racing Team will bring a thunderous start to todays event as they will drive from Ring Power headquarters off International Golf Parkway to the Cowford Chophouse in downtown Jacksonville. 9 am The Stewart-Haas Driver arrives for media and photo-opportunities in front of the Ring Power headquarters. 10 am The car departs Ring Power and heads north along I-95 with a police escort and air support. I will bring you updates along the way on air and online as we hit the Highway to Help Heros.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. A Ponte Vedra Army veteran who recently graduated from the K9s For Warriors training program with his new service dog, Chris, is looking forward to taking his son to a theme park. I believe having a service dog would calm my fears of going out in public, and instead of thinking about what could go wrong, I would be thinking about my service dog, Gabriel said. With my service dog by my side, it is my goal to take my son to a theme park someday.K9s For Warrior paired Gabriel with Chris, who had already completed formal service canine training. The rate of veteran suicide in our country is unacceptable, said Rory Diamond, K9s For Warriors CEO. After three weeks with his or her new service dog, the veteran has learned how to reintegrate into society and, most importantly, reduce the potential for suicide.