How Shannon Walker Supports Veterans with Battle Buddies

I had the opportunity to interview Shannon Walker, the founder of Northwest Battle Buddies. This nonprofit organization helps veterans connect with a service dog. In Walker’s words, Northwest Battle Buddies is  her way of giving back and saying “Thank you for our freedom.” Read on to learn more about the organization and the amazing work Walker and her team do.

Unwritten: What inspired you to create this organization?

Walker: I’ve been a dog trainer for over 30 years. Initially, I started with police dog training and competitions to gain further knowledge and understanding. A huge inspiration for me was  Gene England, a man who won the Schutzhund competition for police dogs. The idea for the organization kicked off in my personal life. While I walked my dog, people kept asking me what exactly I was doing to have them so well-behaved. 

Unwritten: Do you take specific breeds or are you open to any type of canine that fits the temperament of what you’re looking for?

Walker: We take both! Initially, shelter dogs were the goal since there were so many of them. In the past thirteen years since we founded Battle Buddies, we’ve already certified 271 dogs! However, as we know, not every dog can be a service dog. Eventually, we focused more on purposeful breeding to ensure the dog was more likely to graduate the program and be successful with their veteran. 

We use mainly English labs and English cream golden retrievers in our program; both are inherently social, love people and are extremely confident. If, for some chance, there is a dog that is going to be surrendered to a shelter, families will reach out to us first to see if we’re able to take their dog instead.

Unwritten: Are there any dogs that do not graduate from the program? If so, where do they go?

Walker: If a dog does not graduate, we simply consider it a “career change.” Most of the time, we can make them an emotional support animal (ESA) instead. Many veterans qualify for our Battle Buddies, but they cannot always handle the five weeks of training they need to do with the service dog. Depending on the vet’s ability, they can still take the dog as an ESA. 

Ultimately, my team and I want the dogs to be happy and thrive, wherever that may be. If we don’t have a vet on the list for an ESA, we’ll offer the dog back to the foster family. They’ve already established a great connection with them. Our last option, if they say no, is to make a list of people who simply want a “career-changed” service dog. So, there are a lot of places the dog can go.

Unwritten: Do you notice an increase in applications during certain times of the year?

Walker: Every year. Since our organization grows by word of mouth, social media, and other influences, we are growing steadily. January alone this year, we had 27 applications!

Unwritten: Is this program only for veterans residing in the States? Or do you help those who have moved overseas?

Walker: Yes, this is just for the vets within the states. Since we are strict on keeping up with the dog and its handler to keep the dog vetted and doing check-ins, we can’t have them overseas. If, for some reason, a veteran falls out of qualifying for their dog, we will take them back, whether it’s a financial issue, social, or something else. There can be many reasons we take a dog back, which is why we check in frequently during the dog’s life to ensure they’re happy and healthy.

Unwritten: Can a veteran apply again for a dog after theirs passes away?

Walker: Absolutely. If a vet loses their service dog, they immediately go to the top of the list for a new one if the veteran still needs one, as long as they were accountable during the process and in good standing with us. We try to do 10 groups of vets and dogs per training session to get people paired up as soon as we can.

Sometimes, though, the vet decides after their dog has passed they no longer need another one; the dog acts as a bridge to help the veteran gain skills to feel confident enough to function on their own. These dogs help increase their social mobility, from grounding a vet, interrupting panic attacks, or helping with barriers in day-to-day life. It’s just as amazing to see a vet feel confident enough to not need another dog as one who is applying for the first time for a service dog.

Unwritten: What’s your favorite part about the organization?

Walker: Honestly, I don’t think I can choose. I love the entirety of it. From the journey of the puppy being born, to going to its forever home with a vet, to seeing the veteran having their application picked and collecting the dog–the whole process inspires me i. I use Hebrews 12:1 as a good way to explain my mission: “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” The entirety of this journey is the perseverance of the vet and those around them.

Unwritten: What’s the best way to support your organization?

Walker: Visit our website. We post all our photos and success stories there. We rely on funding from everyday Americans, whether that’s through a monthly donation or signing up at events to help us raise awareness. Every little bit helps us. We even have a Vet Heroes Corner on the website that gives info about the dogs we’ve trained or are currently training! We want you to feel a connection with these dogs like we do, even if you’re not physically there.

Unwritten: Thank you so much for your time today, Shannon. Are there any last words you would like to share with us?

Walker: As all vets are the same, they’re all different, too. They’ve all sacrificed for us. They may not wear the uniform anymore, but they still need us. My father served in the Korean War, and I’ve had many friends and people I’ve met who have served somewhere at some time. It’s upsetting that we lose so many vets to suicide. Our program helps vets feel seen by the dogs when they don’t feel seen by other people. 

Image via Northwest Battle Buddies