MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2015
Contact:
Tahoma Guiry, K9s For Warriors
Phone:
904.686.1956
Fax:
904.686.1957
Email:
tahoma@k9sforwarriors.org
K9s For Warriors NEW National Headquarters opens for duty
New, expanded facility can serve up to 192 warriors in need each year
May 1, 2015, Nocatee, Fla. – K9s For Warriors is celebrating the grand opening of its
new headquarters that will help the not-for-profit organization quadruple the number of
specially-trained service dogs it pairs with soldiers battling the effects of PTSD.
Founded by Shari Duval in 2011 as a way to help her own son deal with PTSD, K9s For
Warriors pairs veterans in need with a service dog specially trained to help them cope
with the effects of Post-traumatic Stress Disability, traumatic brain injury and/or military
sexual trauma as a result of military service. The program is offered at no cost to the
veteran.
“Thousands of servicewomen and men go to combat zones daily. Many come back lost –
mentally and physically broken, battered and bewildered,” said Mrs. Duval. “On average,
22 veterans are making the choice to take their own lives every day. Our dogs help these
seemingly lost souls begin to find themselves, and find a new leash on life again.”
K9s For Warriors has already paired over 165 trained rescue dogs with military service
men and women suffering from the invisible wounds of military life, including
Sgt. 1st Class Joe Swoboda. Swoboda served nearly 19 years in the Army, including tours
in Kosovo and three tours to Iraq, including the first invasion and push to Baghdad.
Swoboda was injured by an artillery blast and suffers from a traumatic brain injury (TBI)
and PTSD.
“My K9, Lily, allows me to channel pain, nervousness and anxiety that is dangerous to
my brain injury at any time and the only feedback is a huge bark or a sloppy lick that tells
me, hey brother, it’s all good,” said Swoboda.
K9s For Warriors is a 501(c)3 dedicated to our American Warriors who have sacrificed their tomorrows for our todays.
260 South Roscoe Blvd • Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082 • (904) 686-1956 • Fax (904) 686-1957
Email: info@k9sforwarriors.org • www.k9sforwarriors.org
“Lily and the program have made a huge, huge difference in my life, and the lives of my
loved ones.”
It took a dream, determination and more than a few donations to make the new K9s For
Warriors headquarters a reality. Dubbed “Camp K9”, the new headquarters is located on
nine acres of prime, Nocatee real estate donated by Roger O'Stein, the PARC Group and
the Davis Family. Summit Contracting donated its services as the builder, and hundreds
of sub-contractors donated their time, labor and materials for the project.
Camp K9 headquarters includes a 17,000 square foot headquarters with a full kitchen,
dining hall, lounges, exercise room, library/card room and staff offices. Warriors are
housed in four individual warrior homes designed to accommodate up to 4 soldiers each
per three-week training session. Training sessions are held 12 times each year.
Camp K9 also features 27 climate-controlled kennel stalls for the dogs, five enclosed dog
parks for training exercises, and an in-ground, bone-shaped dog pool for the K9s.
“These dogs work miracles,” said Duval. “I’m very thankful to everyone who has
supported the program these past few years, and very grateful to all of the brave men and
women we’ve helped.
“Our new Camp K9 is an amazing facility that’s going to help us help even more people
in need.”
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About K9s For Warriors
Founded in 2011 as a 501(c) 3 organization by Shari Duval, K9s For Warriors is
dedicated to providing service canines to our warriors suffering from Post-traumatic
Stress Disability, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma as a result of
military service post 9/11. Our goal is to give a new leash on life to rescue dogs and
military heroes, empowering warriors to return to civilian life with dignity and
independence.
K9s For Warriors is a 501(c)3 dedicated to our American Warriors who have sacrificed their tomorrows for our todays.
260 South Roscoe Blvd • Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082 • (904) 686-1956 • Fax (904) 686-1957
Email: info@k9sforwarriors.org • www.k9sforwarriors.org