Our Story | petsIVvets

The Wunder Dog Warrior Story

WHO ARE WE?

We are a kiwi-based veteran owned business that specialize in connecting the (military and service) veteran community with dogs that are at risk of euthanasia. We are big believers in the power of community and connection, whether it be to each other or with our dogs and believe in their transformative effects.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

We are currently experiencing a mental health epidemic within the First Responder and Military veteran community, ultimately resulting in suicide. We are simultaneously experiencing an alarming all time high, of dogs being euthanized. We saw a solution in connecting the two parties, ultimately saving two lives at a time.

HOW CAN WE HELP?

One of our missions is to spread awareness of the issues both of these communities are facing, and to educate and train both dogs and dog owners with world class training, to create a compatible bond enabling cohesive change. We currently operate at a local level, but our vision is to expand regionally and nationally, with the growth of our mission.

Dogs have been proven to help struggling veterans and people in general with mental health, trauma, PTSD rehabilitation and reintegration into society. We know this from our own personal experience and with the testimony of those in our communities.

WHY WE CALL OURSELVES WUNDERDOG WARRIOR?

WunderDog is a play on the word underdog. The warrior is representative of the warrior spirit within all of us. It represents traits like courage,resilience, determination, integrity and so much more.

Wunder Dog Warrior as an acronym, is WDW, hence our logo. WDW also stands for Who Dares Wins, a heavy statement that represents many positive traits.This motto is similar to our operating values as a business.

The values that the motto represents are depicted through our four chosen dogs. Each dog represents a unique trait, each dog also is based on people that we believe exemplified the trait, some of whom are no longer with us, in the process of serving their communities and country. Rest in peace and thank you for your service to these guys who lived and breathe these values: Soane Papalii, Leon Smith & Wayne 'Tails' Taylor.

Bear the American Bully - Leadership and Boldness (

Chucky the Chihuahua- Humor and Honesty

Kilo the German Shepherd- Courage and Excellence

Larry the Labrador- Perseverance and Trust

For more on these characters; please visit https://www.petsivvets.org/general-1

For further reinforcement, we have attached many studies below:

https://www.research.va.gov/ptsd-service-dogs.cfm

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2819452

https://vet.purdue.edu/discovery/nieforth/research/articles/the-healing-power-of-assistance-dogs-for-veterans-with-ptsd.php

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180612083633.htm

https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/archive/releases/2018/Q1/study-shows-service-dogs-are-associated-with-lower-ptsd-symptoms-among-war-veterans-.html