Companion Dog Preparation
Foundational obedience, household manners, routines, calm behavior, and handler education designed to support a dependable veteran-dog relationship.
Training for everyday lifeServing those who served
One dog. One bond. A stronger road forward.
Companion Care for Veterans helps veterans pursue dependable dog companionship and emotional support, connects adoptable dogs with thoughtfully matched homes, partners with local shelters, and brings education and practical support together in one mission.
Veteran-first planning Shelter and rescue partnerships Volunteer-led leadership
Pending
501(c)(3)
organization
501(c)(3)
organization
Trust is trained one day at a time.
Temperament, routine, communication, and a thoughtful match all matter.
Our mission
Honor service by strengthening life after service.
We believe support should feel personal, practical, and dignified. Our work begins with listening—then builds around the veteran, the dog, and the home they may share.
Veteran-first
Needs, goals, living conditions, and personal dignity guide every conversation.
Dog-welfare-centered
The right outcome must be safe, humane, sustainable, and appropriate for the dog as well as the veteran.
Community-powered
Rescues, trainers, volunteers, educators, donors, and veteran advocates can accomplish more together.
What we do
Support built around the bond.
Each program is designed to respect the veteran’s goals, the dog’s wellbeing, and the practical realities of life together.
Adoption & Thoughtful Matching
Working with local shelters, rescues, and foster partners to identify adoptable dogs whose temperament, energy, care needs, and home compatibility may align with a veteran’s life.
Rescue partnerships • thoughtful matchingContinuing Support
Check-ins, education, partner referrals, and practical assistance that can help a veteran and dog remain safe, healthy, and stable after adoption or placement.
Support beyond adoption dayVeteran Education & Resource Navigation
Workshops and trusted referrals on dog care, transition planning, veteran resources, wellness support, and other community services that strengthen daily life.
Clear information, respectful guidanceChoose a place to begin
Help, volunteer service, and dog rescue all start here.
Use the application that best fits your situation. Each submission goes directly to Companion Care for Veterans for review and follow-up.
Request Companion Support
Tell us about the veteran, household, goals, and the type of companionship, adoption, training, education, or practical support being requested.
Complete the veteran applicationOffer Time or Talent
Volunteer with dog care, fostering, transportation, events, outreach, education, administration, fundraising, photography, or professional skills.
Submit a volunteer applicationRefer a Dog for Help
Share information about a dog that may need rescue, shelter coordination, foster care, adoption support, or consideration for a veteran home.
Submit a dog referralBuild a Local Partnership
Coordinate candidate-dog referrals, adoption fees, veterinary records, foster or transport support, behavioral information, and veteran-focused adoption pathways.
Become a shelter or rescue partnerSubmitting an application or referral does not guarantee acceptance, placement, funding, pickup, training, adoption, or a particular response time. Capacity, safety, dog welfare, available funding, and partner resources control what assistance may be offered.
How it works
A careful process, not a rushed placement.
A successful bond begins before a dog comes home and continues long after the first photograph together.
1
Complete the application
Share practical information about the veteran, household, current needs, dog experience, and the support being requested.
2
Review safety and fit
The organization considers housing, lifestyle, mobility, family dynamics, other animals, dog temperament, care needs, and available resources.
3
Coordinate the next step
That may include a shelter or rescue referral, adoption support, training, education, volunteer help, veterinary coordination, or another resource.
4
Support the relationship
Follow-up, education, and community support help the veteran and dog adjust, communicate, and build a sustainable routine.
Every situation is individual. Submission of a request does not guarantee eligibility, a dog match, placement, funding, training completion, or a specific timeline. Dog safety, veterinary suitability, resources, and the wellbeing of all involved remain essential.
Why the bond matters
The dog is not the whole answer. The relationship can be part of the way forward.
The right companion can bring routine, connection, responsibility, movement, and a steady presence into daily life. Our role is to help make that relationship thoughtful and sustainable.
Respect the veteran’s independence and choices.
Protect the dog from unsuitable or unstable placement.
Build skills and expectations that can last.
Apply for companion support
Local sheltersLet’s rescue together.
Shelter and rescue partnerships
Give good dogs another path—and veterans a loyal companion.
Companion Care for Veterans welcomes partnerships with municipal and county shelters, humane societies, rescue organizations, foster networks, veterinarians, and animal-welfare professionals.
Identify dogs with suitable temperament, energy, health, and home needs.
Share veterinary, behavioral, intake, and adoption information responsibly.
Coordinate foster care, transport, training, adoption fees, and supplies when resources allow.
Create thoughtful adoption opportunities centered on both veteran and dog welfare.
Important: Companion Care for Veterans is not an animal-control agency or guaranteed open-intake shelter. Urgent, injured, dangerous, or actively endangered animals should be reported immediately to local animal control, law enforcement, or an emergency veterinarian.
Service from the heartNo salary or compensation
Meet the founder and director
A dog lover. An American patriot. A volunteer devoted to veterans.
Maria Saenz founded Companion Care for Veterans from a deep love for dogs and profound respect and appreciation for the veterans who protected our country.
Maria serves as the organization’s Founder, Director, and an active volunteer. She receives no salary, stipend, fee, or other compensation for her work, and she does not accept payment for her services. She gives her time out of kindness and a sincere commitment to helping veterans and dogs.
Her vision is to connect veterans, shelters, rescues, trainers, volunteers, educators, donors, and community partners—turning gratitude into practical support, responsible adoption, education, and lasting companionship.
Her guiding beliefVeterans deserve more than our thanks. They deserve steady companionship, useful education, and a community willing to stand beside them.
Lead with dignity
Protect every dog
Honor veterans through action
Serve without personal gain
Volunteer leadership pledge: Donations are not used to pay Maria Saenz for her service. She performs her founder and director duties without compensation.
Volunteers needed
Your time can change two lives: a veteran’s and a dog’s.
The organization is building a dependable volunteer team for dog care, rescue coordination, veteran outreach, education, transportation, events, administration, and fundraising.
Dog Care & Foster Support
Help with feeding, exercise, enrichment, temporary foster care, adoption preparation, supplies, and safe daily routines.
Volunteer with dogsTransportation & Adoption Days
Assist with safe rides to shelters, veterinary visits, training, foster homes, adoption meetings, and community events.
Help with transportationVeteran Outreach & Education
Support workshops, resource navigation, respectful outreach, follow-up calls, community presentations, and veteran events.
Serve the veteran communityAdministration, Events & Fundraising
Contribute planning, bookkeeping, communications, grant research, social media, photography, event, or professional skills.
Share your skillsVolunteer roles are unpaid.Volunteer service does not create employment and may require orientation, screening, references, training, waivers, or background checks depending on the role.
Shelters and rescues may use the separate partnership application →
Give with purpose
Every gift supports dogs and veterans—not a founder’s paycheck.
The organization states that donations are used only for dog-care, rescue, adoption, training, education, operational mission costs, and veteran-support purposes.
Food & Daily CareFood, bowls, leashes, bedding, crates, hygiene, and routine supplies.
Adoption & Rescue FeesAdoption, release, transport, microchip, and rescue-coordination costs.
Vaccinations & Veterinary CareVaccinations, exams, preventive care, medication, spay/neuter, and urgent needs when approved.
Shelter, Foster & Facility CostsTemporary shelter, foster support, kenneling, rent, utilities, sanitation, and mission-related space.
Training & EquipmentHumane training, evaluation, enrichment, handling equipment, and veteran education.
Veteran HelpPractical veteran assistance, education, outreach, transportation, matching, and continuing support.
Trusted resources
Help should be easy to find when it matters most.
These official resources are provided for education and immediate connection. Companion Care for Veterans is not a crisis service, medical provider, legal adviser, or government agency.
Veterans Crisis Line
Free, confidential support is available 24 hours a day for veterans, service members, and the people who care about them.
988Press 1 after dialing, or text 838255.
Visit the official crisis line websiteCall 911 for an immediate life-threatening emergency.
Companion, emotional support, and service dogs are not the same.
Under the ADA, comfort or emotional support alone does not make a dog a service animal. A service dog is individually trained to perform work or tasks related to a disability.
Read the official ADA FAQCompanion Care for Veterans does not sell certifications or represent that every dog in its programs is an ADA service animal.
VA dog and PTSD resources
The Department of Veterans Affairs publishes information about service dogs, guide dogs, veterinary benefits, PTSD, and related veteran health resources.
Visit VA’s National Center for PTSD Review VA service dog benefitsExternal links do not imply sponsorship, approval, or affiliation.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers before the next step.
The organization is developing programs and partnerships while its federal tax-exemption application is pending. Contact us for the most current availability.
How may a veteran apply for companion-dog or other support?
Use the dedicated Veteran Companion Support Application. It asks for practical information about the veteran, household, dog experience, goals, and support being requested. Do not submit Social Security numbers, detailed medical records, military records, or financial-account information. An application does not guarantee eligibility, funding, training, adoption, placement, or a response by a particular date.
Can I report an abandoned, stray, surrendered, or at-risk dog?
Yes. Use the dog referral form to provide the dog’s location, condition, behavior, ownership status, and current safety. The referral is not a surrender agreement and does not transfer custody. Companion Care for Veterans is not animal control or a guaranteed open-intake shelter. For an injured, dangerous, actively endangered, or traffic-exposed animal, contact local animal control, law enforcement, or an emergency veterinarian immediately.
Are volunteers currently needed?
Yes. The organization is seeking volunteers for dog care, foster coordination, transportation, adoption events, veteran outreach, education, administration, fundraising, communications, photography, and qualified professional support. Roles are unpaid and may require screening, training, references, waivers, or a background check.
Does Maria Saenz receive a salary or compensation?
No. Maria Saenz serves as Founder, Director, and a volunteer. She receives no salary, stipend, fee, or other compensation and does not accept payment for her services. The organization states that donations are not used to pay her.
How are donations used?
The organization states that donations are used only for dog care and veteran-support purposes, including food and supplies, adoption and rescue fees, vaccinations and veterinary care, temporary shelter or foster costs, training, transportation, facility or rent costs, education, outreach, and other mission-related expenses. Available funds may be allocated among needs as determined by the organization.
Is a donation presently tax-deductible?
Federal recognition under Section 501(c)(3) is pending. The organization is not presently promising that a gift is deductible. The tax treatment may depend on the IRS determination, its effective date, the nature of the gift, and the donor’s circumstances. Donors should retain records and consult their own tax adviser.
Do you provide ADA service dogs?
The organization’s stated focus is companion dogs, emotional-support-centered companionship, adoption connections, education, and other veteran support. Comfort or emotional support alone does not make a dog a service animal under the ADA. The organization does not sell certifications or represent that every dog is task-trained as an ADA service animal.
Can a local shelter or rescue become a partner?
Yes. Companion Care for Veterans welcomes discussions with shelters, rescues, foster networks, veterinarians, trainers, and animal-welfare professionals about candidate-dog referrals, behavioral and veterinary information, adoption fees, transport, foster care, training, and veteran-focused adoption pathways. A website submission is only a request to discuss partnership and is not a binding agreement.
Contact us
Begin with a conversation.
For general questions, sponsorships, education, or professional partnerships, send a message below. Veterans, volunteers, shelters, and dog referrers may use the dedicated applications for a more complete response.
Veteran applicationRequest companion or other support
Volunteer applicationOffer time, talent, or foster help
Dog referralReport an abandoned or at-risk dog
Not an emergency service. Do not use this form for an urgent mental-health or safety crisis. Dial 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, or call 911 for an immediate life-threatening emergency.