A local nonprofit called “Valor Service Dogs” is giving back to wounded veterans by giving them fully trained service dogs.

  • Valor Service Dogs started in 2015 to help wounded veterans
  • Money being raised for new facility to help non profit grow
  • Each dog costs more than $20,000 to train

Husband and wife team, Justin and Carol Lansford, train the dogs at their new facility in Tampa. It used to be a training center for ammunition sniffing dogs.

The Lansfords know just how important these dogs will become. Justin lost his leg after his vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.

“The truck flipped over, and I was crushed underneath,” said Justin.

The Army veteran lost his leg and his independence. As he recovered at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, his wife Carol worked there training service dogs.

Carol even helped train Gabe, who became Justin’s service dog and best friend.


Carol and Justin Lansford at their wedding with Gabe.

“It gives you a whole level of independence you otherwise wouldn’t have. It means you can get through your day with a sense of normalcy,” said Justin.

Gabe knows how to open doors, and helps Justin retrieve anything he needs when he’s not wearing his prosthetic leg. The dog is also trained to “brace,” where Gabe will allow Justin to use his body to help stand up and kneel down.

But Gabe is also there for the wounds you can’t see.

“In a tense situation, the dog can sense my anxiety. He makes himself more present and available to me. He’ll put his face in my lap. He’ll sit up and I’ll get that hot breath in my face,” Justin said.

The two became so close, Gabe served as Justin’s best man. It’s why the Lansford’s began Valor Service Dogs in 2015; to help wounded veterans gain the same companionship.

“For me, as a civilian, I feel like there’s nothing I could ever do that would give them the thanks they really deserve. This is just sort of my tiny way of giving them something to help them transition back into civilian life,” said Carol.

Until last week, the non-profit was operating out of the Lansford’s home.

Now, Valor has its own facility that will allow for group training. It will allow the non-profit to grow, and encourage volunteers to become more involved.

“It’s super important in their training that they can work responsibly with other dogs around. In our living room, I haven’t been able to do that,” said Carol.

Valor is asking the community for help. The new building needs office furniture and other miscellaneous items. The Lansford’s have started a crowd funding campaign to help reach Valor’s goal.

Each dog costs more than $20,000 to train over an 18-month period. So far, Valor has operated off private donations.

Their goal is to place 5 service dogs per year.