Tag: K9s for Warriors

Broncos sponsor training for two ‘K9s for Warriors’ service dogs

The Broncos will sponsor the training of Bucky and Thunder, K9s For Warriors service dogs who will be paired with a veteran in need.

The Denver Broncos will sponsor the training of two service dogs in partnership with the K9s For Warriors organization. Spearheaded by Broncos owner Carrie Walton Penner and head coach Sean Payton, the sponsorship of the two dogs will help retired military veterans. The sponsored dogs are two 11-month-old black Labrador brothers named Bucky and Thunder.

Allie Engelken, the Broncos Vice President of Community Impact, stated how exciting this partnership will be.

“Through the leadership and support of Owner and Foundation Board Chair Carrie Walton Penner and Head Coach Sean Payton, we are excited to sponsor the training of Bucky and Thunder,” Engelken said in a press release.

“Affectionately named after two iconic Denver mascots, we are excited to see them grow into passionate and hard-working service dogs that will create a lasting impact on a Colorado veteran’s life.”

K9s For Warriors is a nonprofit organization that is committed to helping end veteran suicide while providing highly trained service dogs to military veterans who have PTSD and traumatic brain injury. Congrats to the Broncos for landing this partnership.

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The Commanders introduce a new team dog for 2023

For the second straight year, the Commanders will have a new team dog that will train as a service dog for a deserving veteran.

The Washington Commanders have a new team dog. Last year it was Mando; now, the Commanders welcome Goldie.

Goldie is a four-month-old English Yellow Lab born in North Carolina that recently moved to Virginia, where she will undergo skills training. At the completion of her training, Goldie will return to K9s for Warriors, where she will act as a service dog for a deserving veteran.

The Commanders released a video showing head coach Ron Rivera placing a call to Goldie. It was creative. Rivera is a known dog lover and a massive supporter of the United States military. Rivera won the 2022 NFL Salute to Service Award, which honors someone from the NFL family [coach, player, executive, etc.] for their efforts to support and honor the military community.

Here’s more about K9s for Warriors from its official website:

K9s For Warriors serves our veterans as honorably as they served their country. Our lifelong program is provided to Warriors at no cost and is designed to deliver maximum benefit with minimum administrative costs. We are proud that generous supporters trust us to do the right thing with their contributions, and we have received widespread recognition for our stewardship. Impacting the lives of veterans will always be our greatest reward. Their continued participation in the program is the only validation we need.

Goldie will remain with the Commanders until she is between 10-14 months old and returned to K9s for Warriors to finish her training before being placed with a veteran.