FAQ: Northwest Battle Buddies Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD

What is Northwest Battle Buddies and what does it do?

Northwest Battle Buddies is a nonprofit organization founded by Shannon Walker that provides specially trained service dogs to combat veterans with PTSD to help them overcome debilitating symptoms.

Who founded Northwest Battle Buddies and what is their background?

Shannon Walker, CEO and Founder, established the organization with deep passion for supporting veterans inspired by her father who served, and has extensive experience in dog training including Police K9 units since 2002.

What recent milestone is Northwest Battle Buddies celebrating?

The organization is celebrating its 300th service dog team graduation this Fall, representing 300 lives transformed through their veteran and service dog pairings.

What evidence supports the effectiveness of service dogs for veterans with PTSD?

A 2025 study published in the Journal of Archives in Military Medicine proved these specially trained dogs provide clinically significant reduction in PTSD symptoms, with 60% of the service dog teams in the study coming from NWBB pairings.

What specific benefits do service dogs provide for veterans with PTSD?

Benefits include clinically significant reduction in PTSD symptoms across all categories, relief from co-occurring depression, gains in resilience and life satisfaction, reduced isolation, and improved emotional well-being.

How do these service dogs transform veterans’ lives?

Veterans are completely transformed from their initial meeting to five weeks later when they graduate with their service dog, becoming forever changed for the better with renewed hope for their future.

When was Northwest Battle Buddies established and how many veterans have they served?

NWBB has been making a difference since 2012 and will reach 300 service dog team graduations this Fall, directly impacting hundreds of veterans and their families.

What other professional roles and affiliations does Shannon Walker have?

Shannon has been Executive Director of ASDPMV since 2023, serves on their Standards and Members Committees since 2019, is an active member of the International Association of Canine Professionals, and delivers TEDx talks on PTSD and service dogs.

How does the program benefit veterans’ families?

The service dogs create a trickle-down effect that helps not only the veteran but also their families to live a better life after service, as veterans reclaim parts of themselves they once believed were lost forever.