Chap Valor

Chap Valor, a service dog in training, was named to honor a WWII veteran who became a chaplain after his time in the service. After two years of service in Italy and Algeria, Chap’s namesake was discharged and on his way home called his wife and said "find me a seminary". He never spoke of his time in WWII but his experiences changed him during that period and he decided on a change of career to become a minister. We know that Chap will make him proud!

Chap left the service dog program and placed as a First Responder Family Support Dog in 2020.

Peter Tare (PT) Valor

Peter Tare (PT) Valor was named in honor of the call sign for PT boats during WWII. PT has been generously sponsored by our friends, Michael and Mary Trueblood. Michael’s Dad served alongside PT boats as a surgeon in WWII and we are honored to be able to honor all those who served with and on PT boats.

Peter graduated in 2019 and was placed with a Pennsylvania State Trooper who was injured in the line of duty.

Ladd Valor

Ladd Valor was named after the father of our amazing vest maker. Her father was a Korean War veteran stationed at Ladd Army Airfield. Ladd is such a sweet little boy and we know that he will provide the love and comfort his forever veteran needs.

Ladd graduated and was placed with his forever Veteran in August 2022.

Rucker Valor

Rucker Valor was named after Fort Rucker, an Army post in Alabama. Thank you to Operation Patriot Support - OPs for sponsoring this sweet boy and thank you to the cadets at the Sarasota Military Academy for naming him!

Rucker graduated and was placed as a facility dog for Manatee County Emergency Services in 2019.

Mia Valor

Mia Valor, a service dog in training, was named in honor and remembrance of all those missing in action.

Mia was career changed in 2020 and is now training to become our Ambassador dog. She will work with us to educate the public on service dogs, how to interact with them, and the rights given to working pairs.

Mia crossed the rainbow bridge in January 2023.

Reagan Valor

Reagan Valor was named after the USS Ronald Reagan, which is a Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. This supercarrier was named in honor of Ronald W. Reagan, president of the United States from 1981 to 1989.

In 2019, Reagan was attacked by a neighborhood dog, and while she wasn’t injured, she was never able to overcome her fear of other dogs. Reagan was released from her role as our Ambassador dog in 2020 and was adopted by our Executive Director. She is now officially in Princess mode!

Norman D. Valor

Norman D. Valor was named in honor of those who served on D-Day at the Normandy landings. He will grow up to help his forever veteran and remind all of us of the sacrifices made during WWII.

Norman D. graduated and was placed with his forever veteran in May 2019.

Higgins Valor

Higgins was named after the Higgins landing craft which was used to bring soldiers ashore on D-Day. He will go on to help a very deserving veteran and remind us of the sacrifices made during WWII.

Higgins graduated and was placed with his forever veteran in April 2019.

Apollo Valor

Apollo, a service dog in training, has been sponsored through a grant by the Robert Irvine Foundation and Chef Robert Irvine. We named him Apollo after one of the ships Chef Irvine was stationed on while serving. He is a sweet boy who can't wait to serve his forever veteran.

Apollo graduated and was placed with his forever veteran in April 2019.

SOFie Valor

SOFie, a service dog in training, is named in honor of all those who serve in our nations Special Operations Forces. She is a very smart girl and we are sure she is going to do amazing things. Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences, Inc. has sponsored our sweet SOFie Valor! Thank you Nutramax and the Cosequin team for your dedication to service animals and our country's service members.

SOFie graduated and was paired with her forever veteran in March 2019.

Bradley Valor

Bradley is named after the Bradley fighting vehicle. Bradleys were used to safely transport troops while offering protection. What a perfect name as Bradley Valor will help his future veteran safely navigate through life while offering unconditional support through all of life's challenges. 

Bradley graduated and was paired with his forever veteran in January 2019. 

Bomber Valor

Bomber is named after a Special Forces Vietnam Veteran whose nickname was Bomber. After serving time in Vietnam, Bomber was an unconventional warfare instructor and then became the Inspector General at Ft. Bragg. In 1977 he retired from the Army. Our puppy Bomber has big shoes to fill to live up to his name. 

Bomber left the service dog program and was placed as a military family support dog in July 2017. 

Dimmer Valor

Dimmer is named after the call sign for a heavy helicopter squadron in Vietnam. We were so humbled to be contacted about naming a puppy after this squadron and the brave men who were a part of it. During the duration of their tour, the Dimmersquadron lost one pilot and our hopes are that Dimmer will make them proud and live up to the story behind his name. Go get 'Em Dimmer! 🚁

Dimmer graduated and was paired with his forever veteran in March 2018. 

Huey Valor

Huey is named for the Bell UH-1 helicopter. Hueys were notorious for their service in Vietnam, from transporting troops to medical evacuations and running air assault missions. They had a wide range of responsibilities as will our very own Huey Valor.

Huey graduated and was paired with his forever veteran in May 2018. 

Poppy Valor

In 1915, during World War I, Canadian, Lt. Col. John McCrae penned the poem "In Flanders Fields" in honor of a friend that was killed by a German shell. The blood red poppy was able grow in the battle-scarred landscape and covered the graves of the fallen. Since its writing, the poppy has become the remembrance flower for those who have died in combat in several countries to include the United States.

Poppy left the service dog program and was placed as a military family support dog in August 2018. 

PJ Valor

PJ was born on February 26 and came to VSD on April 22.  PJ was named after the Air Force Special Operations Pararescue. A PJ's motto is "these things we do, that others may live." Our hope is that PJ Valor will live his life as a service dog with that same mentality.

PJ graduated and was paired with his forever veteran in October 2017. 

Benning Valor

Benning was born on November 2 and came to VSD on December 22. Benning was named after Fort Benning, GA: The US Army Maneuver Center of Excellence. 

Benny graduated and was paired with his forever veteran in May 2017. 

Liberty Valor

Liberty was born on November 2 and Came to VSD on December 22.  Liberty is named in honor of the many freedoms this country provides and that our veterans give so much to protect.

Libby graduated and was paired with her forever veteran in October 2017.