Who we are

Veterans With Dogs is a UK charity supporting Armed Forces and Merchant Navy veterans living with complex mental health challenges.

Through carefully trained assistance dogs and long-term, trauma-informed support, we help veterans rebuild confidence, independence, and connection. We are a registered UK charity (No. 1161554) and are committed to the highest standards of governance and ethical practice.

Why we exist

Veterans With Dogs was founded in 2012 in response to a clear and urgent need.

At the time, there were very limited recognised pathways in the UK for veterans living with psychological injuries such as PTSD and complex trauma to access assistance dog support.

Many veterans were struggling in isolation, unable to find the right support through traditional routes.

We were established to change that.

Since then, we have grown from a volunteer-led initiative into a nationally recognised charity, supporting veterans and their families through structured, ethical, and evidence-informed programmes.

Committed to delivering ethical support

What drives us

Everything we do is guided by a simple belief:

Those who have given the most should be supported to live well beyond their service.

We are committed to delivering support that is ethical, responsible, grounded in lived experience, focused on long-term outcomes, and built around dignity, trust, and respect.