Northwest Battle Buddies celebrated veterans and their service dogs Saturday, April 26, at the Royal Oaks Country Club in Vancouver with an event called An Evening of Honor, showcasing the impact service dogs have on the lives of those who served.
The nonprofit has placed more than 270 service dogs with veterans, primarily in the Pacific Northwest, since its founding in 2012. Founder and CEO Shannon Walker said her father’s military service sparked her interest in giving back to veterans.
“My father served during the Korean War, and he taught us to believe in God, family and country,” Walker said. “When you’re in the presence of a veteran, you’re in the presence of a hero, even though he never considered himself one.”
Shannon became a professional dog trainer and has been in the business for 30 years. Her inspiration to start Northwest Battle Buddies came after working with a veteran who needed his dog trained to assist him. Walker trained the puppy to be a service dog, who was a good match for the veteran.
“I saw (him) find courage to do for his dog what he was unwilling to do for himself,” Walker said. “I saw him find courage to lead her places he was afraid to go alone.”
The impact of service dogs can be life-changing for veterans who return home with PTSD or physical injuries.
"Service dogs are tools no different than a wheelchair or a walker for somebody who needs mobility or balance," Walker said. "These dogs are trained to wake our veterans up front. They are trained in pressure therapy, grounding techniques, social barriers, (interrupting) panic attacks and anxiety attacks."
Among the veterans at the event was Vinny Vanata, a retired Marine Corps veteran who was paired with his service dog, Gabriel, an English Cream Golden Retriever, in 2015.
"As a result of my service in Iraq, I've got PTSD and a traumatic brain injury," Vanata said. "It's kind of been a game changer."
Vanata described Gabriel as an intuitive partner who helped him navigate daily challenges. Service dogs are acutely aware of signs of anxiety and can bring veterans back to the moment before the problem begins.
"Having a service dog helps to ground you," Vanata said. "He is aware of those things that I would not be consciously aware of … through his training he has been able to help mitigate and sometimes to make it a non-problem."
One of the most powerful moments Vanata shared was visiting Ground Zero in New York City during training.
"He just started pushing into my leg," Vanata said. "It hit me that he was reacting to how I was reacting to being at that place. It was an eye-opener.”
Vanata also spoke about what it means to have had Gabriel by his side for nearly a decade.
“He’s helped me navigate these past 10 years in a very positive way,” Vanata said. “He’s not only impacted me but my family and my friends.”
Army veteran AnnMarie Stormo also shared her journey. After serving 21 years and enduring a motorcycle accident that led to the loss of her leg, she was matched with her service dog, Chance, a golden retriever, in 2022. Chance was named after Chance Phelps, a veteran who was killed in action in Iraq in 2004.
The bond between AnnMarie and Chance has been transformative.
“We call him my second chance because he’s been my second chance at life,” she said.
Chance not only helps Stormo manage her PTSD and balance, but has also helped her reclaim parts of her life she once avoided.
“I can actually go out and do the things I did before because I always just figured everyone was staring at me because of my leg,” AnnMarie said. “Well, now I’m thinking they’re staring at him. He’s so beautiful.”
She emphasized how the dog’s presence extends beyond her own healing.
“The first time he came over, it’s like a light came on the house,” AnnMarie said. “It lit up our lives and made such an impact, not just mine, but the kids, too.”
AnnMarie hopes sharing her story will show other veterans that healing is possible.
“Chance has brought a lot of life and love back into my heart,” she said. “I was suicidal, especially after my fiance died … When he came in, it was totally different. I was living for him and he was living for me.”
Walker hopes the Vancouver event will introduce the nonprofit to more veterans in need of a service dog.
“We’re fighting a suicide rate of 22 veterans a day … If there’s any veteran out there that feels like they’re losing hope, there is hope on the end of a leash,” Walker said.
Readers can learn more about Northwest Battle Buddies and donate to the nonprofit at northwestbattlebuddies.org.
