More Than a Mission —
A Promise
Valiant Heart Companions was built on a belief that every survivor deserves the healing that only a well-trained service dog can provide.
How We Began
Valiant Heart Companions was founded after witnessing firsthand how a service dog transformed the life of a sexual assault survivor — and realizing that for most survivors, the $20,000–$30,000 cost of a professionally trained service dog was simply unattainable.
Our founders believed that this healing shouldn't be reserved for those who could afford it. We set out to build a nonprofit that would bridge that gap — selecting, raising, and training world-class service dogs, then placing them with survivors at little to no cost.
Today, we have placed over 75 dogs across 18 states. Each placement represents a survivor who can now sleep through the night, leave their home, or simply feel safe in their own body again.
Our Mission & Values
Four principles guide every decision we make.
Survivor-Centered
Every dog is trained to address the specific trauma responses of their individual partner — not a one-size-fits-all model.
Accessible
We provide dogs at little to no cost to qualified applicants. Healing shouldn't depend on the size of your bank account.
Evidence-Based
Our training protocols are grounded in the latest research on trauma-informed animal-assisted intervention.
Lifelong Partnership
We support every team beyond placement — with ongoing training, community, and professional guidance for the life of the partnership.
Transparency You Can Trust
We believe donors and applicants deserve to know exactly who they're working with. Valiant Heart Companions is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our filings are public, our impact is measurable, and our commitment is absolute.
All donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Please consult your tax advisor for details specific to your situation.