Group Meetups and Mentorship

For many of our fellow Veterans, the first challenge of the day is simply getting out of bed. Life on the homefront brings its own complexities, and navigating local hunting and fishing regulations—or determining where it’s legal to train or hunt—can feel more difficult than drafting a CO-approved Five-Paragraph Order.

Add in the logistics: gear for both you and your dog, planning the outing, and getting squared away—it's no wonder some feel like waving the white flag before stepping outside.

That’s where we come in. We’ve got your six.

Through our partnerships and generous donors, we provide the gear, support, and resources needed to get you back outdoors—because reconnecting with the mission-driven spirit doesn’t have to be a solo operation.

Across the country, we’re linked with training groups that meet Veterans wherever they are in life. Whether you’re looking to dive back into structured training, or just miss the banter of the barracks, there’s a place for you in our ranks.

We host regular outings with local affiliates, offering everything from tactical field training and survival skills to casual hunts, fishing trips, camping excursions, and outdoor meetups. These events help rebuild the camaraderie we all valued in uniform.

Weekly and monthly events serve as the rally point for like-minded patriots to reconnect, recharge, and rebuild. From these shared experiences, strong bonds are forged—bonds that often lead to hunting expeditions and wilderness trips across the country and beyond.

And when the opportunity arises, we proudly coordinate with our nationwide outfitter network to make those dream hunts a reality.

No matter the objective, we stand ready—shoulder to shoulder—with those who’ve served.

Lending a Hand

Through our Lending a Hand Program, we work with local kennels to train and bond with gun-dogs. Volunteering with hunting dog kennels offers a meaningful and hands-on way to support both working dogs and the veterans who benefit from their companionship. Volunteers play an important role in the early stages of training—assisting with obedience drills, socialization, and exposure to various outdoor environments. This hands-on work not only helps prepare the dogs for their future roles but also provides volunteers, especially veterans, with a sense of purpose, structure, and connection that can be deeply healing.

For veterans in particular, the opportunity to work directly with the dogs fosters trust, emotional connection, and a therapeutic bond. Through temporary fostering programs, veterans can bring a dog home, care for it, and build a relationship rooted in mutual respect and understanding. If the match proves successful, there’s an opportunity to adopt the dog permanently—creating a lifelong partnership that offers both emotional support and a renewed sense of joy, confidence, and companionship. These programs empower veterans to not only aid in a dog’s training but to rediscover purpose through service and connection.

Lifelong Liberation

The Lifelong Liberation Program is the cornerstone of our mission at Paws of Duty, and the driving force behind our founding.

Through this initiative, we provide our nation’s Heroes the opportunity to forge an enduring bond with a canine companion—one that is both mission-ready and life-enriching.

We leverage a trusted network of gun-dog breeders and professional trainers to ensure each service member is matched with a dog that aligns with their personality, operational needs, and lifestyle preferences. Whenever possible, we prioritize the placement of well-started or fully trained dogs in need of rehoming—creating a powerful dual-impact: granting renewed purpose to both the warrior and the working dog.

When a suitable started dog is not available, we engage our breeder partners nationwide to identify exceptional pedigree puppies or upcoming litters. We then assist our Heroes in selecting their future partner and provide end-to-end support through every stage of the training pipeline—ensuring a strong, capable bond that endures both at home and in the field.