From Shelter to Service: SECO Energy Foundation Helps Veterans Train Service Dogs with $24,800 Grant

Brooksville, FL – The SECO Energy Foundation is proud to award a $24,800 grant to K9 Partners for Patriots (K9P4P) in support of Operation 2025, an initiative that provides life-saving service dogs and training to veterans struggling with PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Military Sexual Trauma (MST). This funding will directly support veterans in SECO Energy’s service area, helping them reclaim their independence and improve their quality of life.

Since 2015, K9 Partners for Patriots has rescued and trained 269 shelter dogs and has provided critical service dog training to 770 veterans, including 440 active veteran-canine teams. Unlike traditional service dog programs that provide pre-trained dogs, K9P4P’s unique six-month Animal-Assisted Therapy Program allows veterans to train their own service dogs, strengthening the bond between them while building resilience, confidence, and emotional stability.

“This grant from the SECO Energy Foundation will help veterans on our waitlist begin their journey toward healing,” said Ron Flaville, CEO of K9 Partners for Patriots. “For many of these veterans, having a service dog is the difference between isolation and reintegration into society.”

In addition to dog training, K9 Partners for Patriots integrates mental health counseling, family involvement, and continued support services for graduates, ensuring long-term success. Veterans who complete the program report a 20–30% reduction in PTSD symptoms, improved emotional resilience, and stronger connections with their families and communities.

Mariah Delgado, Executive Director of the SECO Energy Foundation, emphasized the importance of supporting veterans in the local community, “This grant is an investment in the well-being of those who have sacrificed for us. We are proud to give back by supporting a program that directly improves their lives.”

The SECO Energy Foundation grant will help reduce the growing waitlist of 194 local veterans who have been accepted into the program. K9 Partners for Patriots is working toward graduating 100 veteran-canine teams by the end of 2025, ensuring that more veterans receive the support they need to lead fulfilling, independent lives.

For more information about K9 Partners for Patriots and its mission, visit www.k9partnersforpatriots.org.

The SECO Energy Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting local charitable initiatives. The Foundation awards grants quarterly to organizations that focus on health and human services, veterans, public safety, STEM, energy, environmentalism, and education. For more information about the SECO Energy Foundation and its initiatives, visit www.SECOFoundation.org.