K9 Service With A Twist was created to support the growing need for professionally trained service dogs in and around the San Antonio area…and to help prison inmates. A few years ago, while working for a large Service Dog organization, I witnessed firsthand the awe-inspiring, unexplainable intuition of a proper working service dog. I was at a public access test and watched as a Vietnam veteran struggled to stay calm while he was separated from his service dog. After only about 8 minutes they were reunited, and that Great Dane mix walked right over to him and put her big paw on his leg as if to say, “I’ve got you.” She let him stroke her head and grab her paw while he quickly settled down and his tremors subsided. I knew then I always wanted to be a part of this incredible, magical bond, even if it was just in some small way. I wanted to be a little more connected to the dogs and people who they were saving... because that's exactly how powerful this can be. I began K9 Service with A Twist, a 501c3, in April 2020 to support and inspire programs that focus on a second chance at life for military veterans, prison inmates, and shelter dogs. Small but mighty, K9SWAT.org trains a small number of service dogs and Battle Buddies for local veterans who suffer from social isolation and PTSD. Eligible dogs go through advance training to be partnered with veterans in need of an Emotional Support Animal or Certified Service Dog, completely free of charge. K9SWAT.org supports the veterans and their dogs with training and recertification throughout the dog’s life. K9SWAT.org also supports programs such as Paws In Prison, where dogs slated for euthanasia are paired with prison inmates for basic training and care while they await adoption. K9SWAT.org helps advance the education of those in the program by exposing them to the many facets of Service Dog Training to increase their chances of employment when paroled and decreasing the recidivism rate in prison. All donations go directly towards the care and training of the services dogs we have in the program.
