Bringing Hope to Veterans
Welcome to the first newsletter from Freya’s Warriors —a new nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the life-changing partnership between military Veterans and their Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) service dogs. This summer, Freya’s Warriors officially became a 501(c)(3) organization, and we are excited to introduce ourselves to a select group of early supporters and friends.
Today, more than 11,000 U.S. military Veterans are waiting to receive service dogs to help them manage Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from their service to our country. Although many small organizations across the nation train and provide PTS service dogs, fewer than 1,000 dogs are successfully trained each year, while the need continues to grow.
Compounding the problem, there are currently no universal standards for training or certifying PTS service dogs. As a result, far too many dogs placed with Veterans are inadequately trained, leading to unsuccessful partnerships and many struggles during the initial years. Nearly 34% of these dogs are returned or become a family pet because neither the dog nor the Veteran received the preparation and support needed for long-term success.
As awareness and understanding of PTSD continue to grow, some of the nation’s leading service dog training organizations and Veteran advocacy groups are working to improve standards and expand access to highly trained service dogs specifically for PTSD support. Freya’s Warriors —led by founder Heather Brown —is committed to advancing that mission.
Heather understands firsthand the impact PTSD can have on Veterans and the profound difference a properly trained service dog can make. Her brother, Cable, served 20 years in the United States Marine Corps, including deployments in Afghanistan, Iraq, and several other combat theaters.
An accomplished and highly respected dog trainer, Heather personally trained Cable’s PTS service dog, a black standard poodle named Goliath. She continues to work closely with both Cable and Goliath, helping strengthen their skills, communication, and bond. The results have been transformative: reduced stress, greater awareness of PTSD triggers, improved emotional regulation, and a trusted companion who helps Cable remain calm,focused, and connected.
Through this journey, Heather recognized a critical gap in the traditional training model. Most PTS service dog programs rely on brief, two week or less training sessions that simply do not provide enough time to build the deep trust and advanced skills necessary for a successful Veteran-dog partnership. Freya’s Warriors was created to offer a more comprehensive and supportive approach —one that prepares both the dog and the Veteran for lasting success together.
In this inaugural newsletter, we invite you to meet Heather, learn about her training philosophy, and discover the story behind the name Freya’s Warriors. We’ll also introduce you to Cable and Goliath, whose journey illustrates the life-changing impact a healthy, well-trained service dog partnership can provide.
As we bring Freya’s Warriors to life, we are seeking supporters, advocates, and cheerleaders who believe in improving the lives of our military Veterans. Financial and in-kind donations are always appreciated, but just as valuable are those willing to help spread the word and share our mission with others who may want to get involved.
You may choose to “Opt In” to continue receiving our quarterly newsletters and follow our growth and progress. If you decide not to opt in, this will be the final newsletter you receive from us.Thank you for taking the time to learn about Freya’s Warriors. We hope you will support our mission and follow our journey by visiting Freya’s Warriors from time to time.