Whether it's Tuesday or any other day, the time to give is now.
Generosity has no deadline, and kindness knows no boundaries.
Vets to Vets United is dedicated to helping our local area Veterans with disabilities by pairing them with rescued dogs and teaching the Veteran to train their animal for service. The cost of this life-saving program is $20,000 per Veteran/dog team, but we are committed to offering our Service Dog Training Program to our wounded warriors free of charge. With your support, we can bring the transformative healing power of the human-animal bond to more of the Veterans currently on our waiting list. Your generosity will directly benefit both Veterans with disabilities and rescued animals, creating a profound impact.
Matthew's Story
“Vets to Vets United saved my life, and helped me save Phoenix.”
​Matthew Giles and his battle buddy, Phoenix, have been on a remarkable journey since joining Vets to Vets United (VTVUI) in January. Matthew credits the organization with helping him find hope and purpose. “Without the help of Vets to Vets United and their wonderful volunteer trainers, I honestly don't know if I'd be here,” he shared.
In September 2023—after an 18-month wait—Matthew connected with Vets to Vets United. Even then, the challenges continued. Despite repeated efforts, the necessary referral for a service dog was denied, increasing his stress and frustration. However, he refused to give up. "I wasn't losing hope, but it was an uphill battle, and I was running out of steam," Matthew said. However, the folks at VTVUI became crucial advocates during this time, speaking with Matthew’s doctors and supporting him through the process. "Even though their intervention didn't help initially sway the doctors, they provided a sense of compassion, and I was glad to have some backup for once.”
​
Matthew persevered, and in December of 2023, he obtained the referral he needed to begin training.
​
That’s when Phoenix entered his life. Matthew met five rescue dogs from Charlie Mike, each ready to be paired with a veteran. Among them was Phoenix, a high-energy dog who had been waiting for nearly a year. Phoenix immediately captured Matthew’s attention. “When I was told that he had been passed up so many times, I knew that I was going to help save him."
Matthew’s journey reflects his commitment to improving his well-being and his dedication to Phoenix. While he acknowledges that there is more work ahead, he is confident that he and Phoenix will achieve their goals together. Vets to Vets has saved my life and helped me save Phoenix," Matthew shared. "I can never truly express how grateful I am that Vets to Vets United decided to help me."
