Freedom Dogs

09/24/2026

Marine veteran Bobby Hensley spent years carrying post-traumatic stress and anxiety after four years as an 0341 mortarman, including a deployment to Bosnia. He hid it until his family helped him see he needed more than talk.

Freedom Dogs, the Oceanside nonprofit that trains specialty service dogs at no cost to warriors, paired him with Frankie, a chocolate Labrador. She alerts when someone approaches from behind. She wakes him from nightmares. She walks the school hallways with him at Ortega High School, where students have told Bobby they come to school because they get to see her.

These are not emotional support animals. They are task-trained partners. Freedom Dogs covers food, veterinary care, and gear for the life of the dog so the warrior can keep the team together.

Read the full story at the link in the comments.

09/21/2026

09/21/2026

The Freedom Dogs crew was out at SeaWorld San Diego this past weekend meeting some new friends! Did you know SeaWorld celebrates our men and women in uniform every month with their Military Appreciation Weekend? 🐕‍🦺 🫍 🇺🇸

09/15/2026

Don’t forget, you can meet Boone and her friends at the Freedom Dogs 20th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, November 14th! Become a sponsor and secure your tickets today! 🔗 in the comments!

09/15/2026

Thank you to San Diego Business Chamber for hosting such a great event last week!

09/04/2026

Vietnam Navy veteran Mushroom Montoya carried two tours or duty and decades of PTSD. Now he has Yazzie, a Freedom Dog puppy named to honor Navajo Code Talkers.

Their work together is just beginning. The partnership is already changing his days.

Read Mushroom and Yazzie’s story:

https://www.freedomdogs.org/post/vietnam-navy-veteran-mushroom-montoya-partners-with-freedom-dogs-and-service-dog-yazzie-for-ptsd-sup

Heroes for our Heroes.

Vietnam Navy veteran Mushroom Montoya is training Freedom Dogs service dog Yazzie for PTSD support after two tours at sea. The Long Beach architect and author says the partnership is changing how he moves through the world.

09/02/2026

Join Freedom Dogs in celebrating our 20th anniversary November 14th SeaWorld San Diego! Get up close and personal with unique animals, see Zena Jean Scott and The Dry River Band, bid on our silent and live auction items and meet our heroes! 🐕‍🦺 We hope to see you there!!

08/27/2026

Have you been to the Fleet Science Center Center in Balboa Park? Our Thursday Training Class went on a field trip to the Fleet Science Center to let our Freedom Dogs in Training experience the sights and sounds of learning 🧬 , exploration 🔎 and FUN!! If you haven’t been yet, you are missing out. Thank you to the Fleet Science Center team for hosting our amazing volunteer trainers and service dogs in training. 🐕‍🦺

08/26/2026

Happy National Dog Day from Freedom Dogs. 🐾
Today we celebrate every dog who shows up with a wag and a purpose. we especially thank the service dogs who walk beside our wounded warriors.
These dogs provide so much more than companionship. They ground emotions when the world feels too loud. They offer consistent, steady support when invisible wounds make the next step feel impossible. They help our service members reclaim peace, confidence, and a life that feels like their own again. They retrieve smiles for those who feared they had lost them for good.
To the dogs in the blue vests, the puppy raisers who start the journey, the trainers who shape the work, and the warriors who trust the bond: thank you. Heroes for our Heroes, every day.

08/19/2026

How long (and how many sticks of 🧀) does it take to teach a Freedom Dog 🐕‍🦺 to open a door? At Freedom Dogs we train our pups using 💯 positive reinforcement. Donate today to keep our pup’s cheese supply well-stocked!