LIBERTY FOR ALL SERVICE DOGS

Liberty for All, Service Dogs is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 2021, providing psychiatric assistance, medical alert, and mobility support Service K9s. Founded by 2, 20-year Military Spouses and 2 Disabled Veterans, Liberty for All is dedicated to assisting those who have served. However, we found there was little access to programs providing affordable service dogs to Gold-Star families, Military Spouses, and non-affiliated civilian trauma survivors in need, and so, Liberty for ALL, Service Dogs was born.

Who Qualifies for a Service Dog through Liberty for All, Service Dogs?
Our clients have been diagnosed with a trauma-induced mental health disorder or have long-term negative mental or physical symptoms pertaining to a trauma-related incident or life-altering medical diagnosis that has been verified by their Primary Care Physician or Licensed Mental Health Provider. (Provider must support and recommend a Service Dog as part of the client’s individual treatment plan). The client or an approved caregiver must be able to properly financially and physically care for and maintain a Service Dog in the home.

Liberty for All, Service Dogs accomplishes it mission of community building through our unique raise-and-train program. This model works by incorporating a peer support method of approach. Clients train together weekly, alongside of our staff throughout the duration of their service dog candidate’s training. Liberty for All clients who have graduated the program are encouraged to come back and mentor future clients. Within this program, our role is not only to guide clients in developing a successful working relationship with their K9 partner but to develop relationships and networks that will continue to offer support long after program completion. The group setting engagements involve evidence-based techniques that have been proven to facilitate resilience and recovery. Liberty for All, Service Dogs aims to go beyond just the pairing of a Service K9; while this is the most important piece of our mission, the issued K9 is only the beginning of establishing a new and improved normal for trauma survivors.

Through participation in Liberty for All, Service Dogs’ raise-and-train program, clients become more self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and build healthy coping mechanisms as well a network of support. The lessons learned to successfully train and work with their K9 in a group setting, in turn, translate to other areas of life. Research shows that a network of support, community engagement, and healthy behavioral activation practices can reduce the negative symptoms of trauma, stress, and depressed states and thus associated disorders can often be better managed in additional ways outside of the service animal.

Other programs:
The Distance Training Program is right for clients who’s housing exceeds a 2-hour driving radius from the Fort Hood, Texas area but would like to participate in the Raise and Train option. Distance Training Program clients are paired with a K9 candidate trained to an agreed upon point and then complete training on their own using videos made by our training staff. Distance clients are required to check in weekly via video conference for real-time training checks. Clients must also financially commit to a minimum of 3, in-person travels to our home location in Central Texas: the first, to pick up their candidate and review basic training skills; the second, to complete the AKC Canine Good Citizen tests and review advanced training skills; and the third, for review of public access skills, final testing, and task verification.

Liberty for All, Service Dogs recognizes that the Raise and Train Program is not the right fit for everyone. Our clients have the option to choose the Finished Service Dog Program which provides a Service Dog that has completed all required training, testing, and whose tasks suit their individual needs. Clients choosing this option understand that a wait list of up to a year or more may apply. The Liberty for All Finished Service Dog Program requires clients train and certify with their new partner, in-person, for 2 weeks before the process is deemed complete.

COMING SOON…
Peer Support Groups:
• Veteran’s Group
*In Partnership with the Texas Veterans Commission Military Veteran Peer Network

• Women’s Group
• Youth Group

Character Building and Leader Development Interactive Presentation
*In partnership with the Travis Manion Foundation’s, Character Does Matter Program

It costs on average $30,000+ to fully train a Service Dog.
All clients participate at absolutely NO COST to them.

On behalf of the Liberty for All Service Dogs Team and Clients, thank you for your support!