Defence Community Dogs

Defence Community Dogs Defence Community Dogs rehomes dogs and trains them to Assistance Dog level to support Australian Defence Force veterans suffering from PTSD.

Defence Community Dogs program provides, at no cost, highly trained Assistance Dogs to both serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members, who need physical and emotional support for mood, depressive and anxiety disorders; including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Established in 2014, this truly unique Win-Win-Win program gives rescued and re-homed dogs a second chance, reha

bilitates inmates (who train the dogs in Correctional Facilities under the direction of professional dog trainers), and helps Veterans to both rebuild and literally save their lives. The program is fully funded by sponsorships and donations through the Defence Bank Foundation. To date, more than 60 DCD Assistance Dogs have been paired with Veterans throughout Australia. "It’s changed my life. It’s brought me back to the person I used to be. This program is just absolutely amazing. I wouldn’t be here today without it. Lola was one day off being euthanased and now she has saved my life." Mick and Lola

Veterans who have received Defence Community Assistance Dogs have described their dogs to be a truly invaluable part of their rehabilitation. Veterans have reported improved sleep patterns, reduced episodes of stress and anxiety, reduced reliance on medication, greater independence and a renewed ability to reconnect with family and friends. Partners and carers have also reported increased independence, and some have even been able to return to work. The Defence Bank Foundation is a registered independent charity which raises funds to pay for its sole beneficiary, the Defence Community Dogs program. www.dcdogs.com.au All donations over $2 are tax deductible. ABN 19 814 426 820

To donate visit www.dcdogs.com.au/donate

For information on how to apply for a dog, visit www.dcdogs.com.au/apply

For general enquiries, please contact [email protected]. For sponsorship enquiries, please contact [email protected].

Partnerships make placements possible. 💙🐾Behind every DCD Assistance Dog is a community of passionate partners, individu...
28/08/2026

Partnerships make placements possible. 💙🐾

Behind every DCD Assistance Dog is a community of passionate partners, individual donors, and local sponsors who help make it all happen. Your support helps us provide:

✨ Professional, specialised task training.
✨ Full healthcare, equipment, and nutrition for our dogs.
✨ Fully matched Assistance Dogs to serving and ex-serving ADF members living with PTSD at zero cost to them.

A huge thank you to our partners like for backing our mission and helping Veterans regain their confidence, independence, and connection to life. 🙌

🤝 Want to help us make a lasting impact? Contact our team to learn more.

Happy International Dog Day from all of us at Defence Community Dogs! 🐾August 26th is a global reminder of the extraordi...
25/08/2026

Happy International Dog Day from all of us at Defence Community Dogs! 🐾

August 26th is a global reminder of the extraordinary contributions dogs make to our lives. At DCD, we witness that magic firsthand as our dogs transform the lives of veterans - offering safety, independence, and a trusted partnership that lasts for years.

Want to help us mark the occasion? Here are a few ways you can support our mission today:

1️⃣ Share our story: Spread the word about how DCD assistance dogs support our veteran community.

2️⃣ Support our training: Every donation helps us train and place life-changing assistance dogs where they are needed most.

3️⃣ Spoil your pup: Give your own dog a little extra love, a spa day, or a special treat today!

Thank you to our supporters, sponsors, and community for making these life-changing partnerships possible.

Ever wondered how we match a Defence Community Dogs (DCD) with an ADF Veteran? It’s far more than basic training! Our de...
25/08/2026

Ever wondered how we match a Defence Community Dogs (DCD) with an ADF Veteran? It’s far more than basic training!

Our detailed Veteran Matching and Training process is tailored to every individual recipient. We carefully evaluate your:

🏠 Household & Environment
To ensure compatibility with your family, regular visitors, and other animals in the home.

💤 Personal Triggers & Stress Signs
Identifying specific triggers, visual signs of stress, and occurrences like night terrors.

🏋️‍♂️ Tailored Task Training
Personalised training prior to specifically alleviate unique signs of stress.

🎯 Lifestyle & Goals
Matching energy and exercise levels, plus working toward a personalised goals set.

Behind every successful match is dedicated learning and tailored support designed to empower our Veterans — one paw at a time! Got a question about how we train or match our DCD Assistance Dogs? Ask us in the comments! 👇

23/08/2026

When people think of Assistance Dogs, they usually picture tasks out in public like creating personal space in busy crowds or navigating shopping centres. However, some of the most life-changing skills happens at home. 🏠

For Veterans living with PTSD, night terrors can make sleeping feel like it's own battle. Through hundreds of hours of training, our learn to detect early physiological signs of a nightmare (like changes in breathing, movement or elevated distress) and before the night terror fully takes hold, they'll step in to ground their Veteran safely back to reality. ⚓

It’s a simple task that provides invaluable peace of mind when they close your eyes. 💙

🔁 Share this post with someone who might find this useful!

Daily life for Veterans living with PTSD can feel incredibly isolating. Even small errands like grabbing milk or standin...
22/08/2026

Daily life for Veterans living with PTSD can feel incredibly isolating. Even small errands like grabbing milk or standing in a crowded checkout line can loom large. When public spaces feel unsafe, staying home often becomes the only way to feel secure.

DCD Assistance Dogs are not a magic fix, but through tailored training customised to the needs of our recipients, our program helps bridge the gap between fear and safety and gives our Veterans a reliable partner and the confidence to re-enter the community.

📲 Share DCD Recipient Tom's story to help us reach more Veterans, or click the link in the comments to read more about DCD’s life-changing impact!

Meet Yoyo! 🐾This sweet boy is always ready to jump in and help and approaches every task with enthusiasm and care. He's ...
19/08/2026

Meet Yoyo! 🐾

This sweet boy is always ready to jump in and help and approaches every task with enthusiasm and care. He's constantly growing and mastering new skills with ease. When he’s "off-duty," Yoyo’s favorite ways to unwind are:

🌊 Swimming: He's a water lover through and through and would swim every single day if he had his way!

🎾 Socialising: He absolutely loves playing with other dogs and having a great time with his furry friends.

We're so proud of the progress this clever boy is making!

Today on Vietnam Veterans’ Day, we honour and remember the extraordinary courage, service, and sacrifice of all those wh...
17/08/2026

Today on Vietnam Veterans’ Day, we honour and remember the extraordinary courage, service, and sacrifice of all those who served in the Vietnam War.

Throughout history, the bond between Defence personnel and their animals has provided comfort in difficult times. Working dogs and animal companions offer unconditional loyalty and steady companionship when it's needed most — a connection that continues to support our Defence community today. 🐾

Today is a day for deep remembrance, respect, and gratitude. To all our Vietnam Veterans: thank you for your service.

17/08/2026

Another week of hard work, big milestones, and lots of tail wags. 🐕

Behind every confident DCD team is hours of behind the scenes work. From navigating busy shopping centres and mastering transport settles to perfecting physical tasks like space buffering — our dogs are always putting in the work!

📲 Follow us to watch our dogs grow, learn, and progress!

What does a Defence Community Dogs partnership actually look like in real life? For serving and ex-serving Australian De...
12/08/2026

What does a Defence Community Dogs partnership actually look like in real life?

For serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members living with mood, depressive and anxiety disorders, a simple task can feel like navigating a minefield. The noise, crowds, and constant worry about who is behind them mean that many end up staying home, isolated from the world.

Data shows that there's a significant drop in social isolation among DCD recipients, and an increased connection to family and community. This means:

🏉 Going to a Saturday morning footy match with the kids.
🛍️ Standing in a busy grocery queue without feeling hypervigilant.
☕ Sitting at a local cafe for a quiet coffee.

Our Assistance Dogs do more than perform trained tasks, they help bring calm to everyday moments.

We'd like to send a huge shoutout to Alan and his crew for hosting a successful Apple Turnover Fundraiser last week and ...
11/08/2026

We'd like to send a huge shoutout to Alan and his crew for hosting a successful Apple Turnover Fundraiser last week and raising $1500! 🍎

Alan and the Kokoda Barracks community came together to prepare, bake, pack and sell apple turnovers to raise money for Defence Community Dogs.

Every great fundraiser starts with an idea, connecting with the right people, and coming together to make it all happen. Thank you to Superior Food Services for donating the ingredients, Compass Group Aus for providing the facilities and the Land Warfare Centre Kokoda Barracks management and staff for showing up to support the event. And an extra special shout out to the everyone who gave up their time to make sure the event ran successfully.

Community efforts like this are what help us change the lives of even more ADF members across the country. Thank you all for your incredible support! 🐶❤️

Address

31 Queen Street, Level 10
Melbourne, VIC
3000

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+611300323647

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