JAVELAN Service Dogs
The JAVELAN program provides funding for service dogs for military veterans and retired first responders in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. This program enriches the lives of retired first responders and veterans, by enabling independence and giving life-changing support.
JAVELAN Is For Our Nation’s Heroes Who Are Suffering From:
- PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Many other affiliated physical and emotional disabilities.
JAVELAN partners these heroes with trainers and dogs to improve the quality of life of our nation’s heroes through the medical assistance and healing power of their new canine partners.
JAVELAN Is Unique
- Shelter or rescue dogs are used whenever possible. These dogs find their purpose in a loving, forever home.
- The retired first responder or veteran participates in the training of the dog. The “team” bonds and the dog learns to respect and obey their teammate.
- The cost per team is approximately $5,000 for training and needed supplies; much lower than many other programs.
- JAVELAN offers lifetime support for the recipient of the dog.
The program was established to ensure that our heroes in need benefit from this opportunity regardless of their ability to pay. JAVELAN was founded in 2017, as an independent non-profit organization to support the placement and training of service dogs for military veterans and continues that mission today as a program of the First Responders Foundation.
JAVELAN Graduates
Eligibility
JAVELAN assists in obtaining qualified service dogs for the following client types:
- Active duty military or military veterans, with mobility disabilities such as paralysis, MS, stroke, TBI, amputations, etc.
- Active duty military or military veterans requiring diabetic or seizure alert dogs
- Active duty military or military veterans who have been formally diagnosed with PTSD, TBI, or physical disability.
- Currently employed or retired First Responders, including but not limited to, firefighters, police, sheriff’s department, and other law enforcement agencies.
JAVELAN is unable to provide service dogs at this time for the following conditions:
- Low vision, or individuals who are blind
- Individuals who are deaf or seriously hearing impaired.
- Behavioral health diagnoses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, etc., are considered on a case by case basis.
- Veterans and First Responders diagnosed with PTSD who also have anxiety or depression are welcome to apply.
- JAVELAN at this time is unable to provide service dogs to individuals outside of eastern Nebraska or western Iowa.
For any questions on eligibility, program overview and its requirements, please contact us at 402-218-1234, option #4 (voicemails needed) or email JAVELAN@firstrespondersfoundation.org.
If you’d like to proceed with applying, a $25 application fee (submit at the link below) is required; once this has been received, we will send you the application via email. The $25 application fee must be paid & cleared prior to receiving the JAVELAN program application.
JAVELAN does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, HIV/AIDS status, physical or mental disability for the purpose of service, employment, membership, volunteering, or leadership.
It takes a dedicated effort to train a service dog at significant cost; consequently, JAVELAN must have the best interest of the service dog in mind when placing a service dog with an applicant. Therefore, JAVELAN reserves the right to disqualify an applicant, at any stage from application through training. We also reserve the right to remove a placed dog from a recipient if it is deemed necessary by staff, and request repayment for services rendered.
