Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD
Paws Fur Thought is a small, volunteer-led organization that coordinates the placement of fully trained, certified service dogs with Canadian Military and RCMP veterans and serving members living with an Operational Stress Injury (OSI) or PTSD. Since 2012, we've placed 131 dogs across Canada, and today we proudly serve veterans in Atlantic Canada.
Who We Are
Paws Fur Thought is a small, volunteer-led organization that coordinates the placement of fully trained, certified service dogs with Canadian Military and RCMP veterans and serving members diagnosed with an Operational Stress Injury (OSI) or PTSD.
We work alongside two partners. Our dogs are trained and certified by CARES, Inc., and we are proud to be a recognized provider in the Wounded Warriors Canada Service Dog Program. Wounded Warriors Canada, a registered Canadian charity, looks after the financial and charitable side of our work, including donations and funding. That lets our volunteers focus on matching veterans with the right dog and supporting them every step of the way.
What Is a Service Dog?
There is often confusion about what makes a true service dog. Every service dog is trained and tested for public access and task-trained to help their handler with a specific disability. That can include diabetic and seizure alerting, mobility assistance, autism support, hearing assistance, and OSI/PTSD intervention.
In Nova Scotia, service dogs and their handlers are protected under the Service Dog Act.
How It Works
Screening form
Complete our short online intake screening form so we can check the basic criteria.
Application package
If you meet the criteria, we'll contact you within a week to start your full application. Once it's complete, you join our wait list.
Train together
When funding and a dog are available (typically about 18 months), you travel to CARES in Concordia, Kansas, for 5 days of training with your new dog.
Go home as a team
Return home with a fully trained, certified service dog, with Paws Fur Thought behind you.
What's covered
Paws Fur Thought covers your service dog, your flights, and your accommodation in Concordia, and organizes rental vehicles for the drive from the Wichita airport (about 2 hours 15 minutes), carpooling where possible. Meals are not covered. New handlers travel in small groups, usually three, escorted by a Paws Fur Thought volunteer.
New to OSI and PTSD? See our OSI/PTSD resources, or read the frequently asked questions.
Our Impact
Since 2012, Paws Fur Thought has placed 131 service dogs with veterans in 80 communities across 7 provinces. Today we focus on veterans in Atlantic Canada.
Dogs placed by province
By the handler's home province when the dog was placed
One 2014 placement has no address on file and isn't counted by province.
Dogs placed each year
2012 to October 2026
No dogs were placed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 figure is for January to October only.
Show these figures as a table
| Province | Dogs |
|---|---|
| Nova Scotia | 67 |
| Ontario | 29 |
| New Brunswick | 18 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 10 |
| Alberta | 3 |
| Prince Edward Island | 2 |
| Quebec | 1 |
| Year | Dogs |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 12 |
Our Partners
CARES, Inc. (Canine Assistance, Rehabilitation and Education Services) in Concordia, Kansas, trains and certifies every dog we place. CARES has placed nearly 2,200 assistance dogs since 1993.
Wounded Warriors Canada, a registered Canadian charity, supports Paws Fur Thought through its Service Dog Program and looks after the financial and charitable side of our work. Your donations to WWC help fund the dogs, training and travel for our veterans.
With special thanks to our major supporters: The Order of St. George, Atlantic Priory, The Royal Canadian Legion, Commissionaires Nova Scotia, and The Convoy Cup Foundation. More about our supporters
Help Pair a Veteran with a Service Dog
Paws Fur Thought is volunteer-led and supported by Wounded Warriors Canada, which handles donations for our program. Every donation helps cover a service dog, training, and travel for a Canadian veteran.
How to Donate