At Company Distilling, we believe in honoring those who have served our nation and supporting the communities that rally around them. This May, we are honored to announce that Service Dogs for Veterans has been selected as a recipient of our Gather Around Giving Grant.

About Service Dogs for Veterans

Founded in 2014 by Bill Brightman and training partner Connie Cleveland in Greenville, South Carolina, Service Dogs for Veterans (SD4V) was created to give veterans in the Upstate South Carolina, western North Carolina, and Georgia region access to a service dog locally. SD4V’s mission is to complement traditional treatment for veterans with PTSD, TBI, and MST by training them and a dog to become highly effective, ADA-compliant Service Dog Teams. What makes SD4V unique is their model: rather than providing a pre-trained dog, they teach veterans to train their own – a process that has proven to be as healing as the dog itself. As a community-funded 501(c)(3) organization, SD4V receives no financial support from the federal, state, or local government, and an impressive 94.8% of every dollar donated goes directly to program costs.

Services Offered

  • Companion Dog Program (3 Months): The first phase of SD4V’s 8-month program is open to any veteran or active military member regardless of era served, with or without a disability. Veterans attend weekly one-hour group classes and keep a daily training log as their dog progresses through beginner and intermediate obedience. Family members are encouraged to attend alongside the veteran throughout all phases of training.
  • Service Dog Program (5 Months): Veterans who successfully complete the Companion Dog phase and have a verified diagnosis of PTSD, TBI, or MST may continue into the Service Dog phase. Over the course of five additional months, dogs are trained in advanced obedience and public access skills — graduating as fully ADA-compliant Service Dog Teams. SD4V’s incentive-based, LIMA-compliant training model is designed to bring out the best in both the veteran and their dog.
  • Mental Health Support: SD4V specifically addresses the invisible wounds many veterans carry home — PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Military Sexual Trauma (MST). While traditional therapy and counseling are valuable, SD4V fills the gap for veterans who need a constant companion watching their back. A trained service dog becomes what SD4V calls a new “Battle-Buddy” — present 24/7 and attuned to the veteran’s needs in ways that no other support can replicate.
  • Rescue Dogs & Community Support: SD4V’s goal is to source 100% of their dogs from local shelters and rescue organizations, matching each dog to the individual training needs and lifestyle of the veteran. Veterans are also assigned a Veteran Advocate — often a program graduate — who provides mentorship and encouragement throughout every phase of training. This peer support model creates a sense of camaraderie that mirrors what many veterans have been missing since leaving the military.

Impact

Since 2014, SD4V has graduated 210 Service Dog Teams and counting. Veterans who complete the full 8-month program experience an average 52% reduction in their significant life-limiting symptoms — a remarkable outcome that speaks to the power of the human-canine bond and the SD4V training model. With 98% of program costs covered through donor scholarships, veterans pay only a modest out-of-pocket fee to participate, ensuring that cost is never a barrier to healing. The program is run by a team of over 20 volunteers, the majority of whom are veterans and SD4V graduates themselves, giving back to the very community that helped them reclaim their lives.

How You Can Support Service Dogs for Veterans

Your support helps ensure that more veterans have access to the healing power of a trained service dog. Here’s how you can help:

  • Donate: SD4V relies entirely on community donations to fund their programs — receiving no government funding at any level. With 94.8% of every dollar going directly to program costs, your contribution makes a direct and meaningful impact on veterans’ lives. Visit sd4v.org/donate to give.
  • Volunteer: SD4V is powered by a passionate team of volunteers with a variety of roles including training assistance, veteran advocacy, photography, grant writing, and community outreach. If you have skills to share and a heart for veterans, reach out to SD4V at communityoutreach@sd4v.org to learn how you can get involved.
  • Support as a Local Business: SD4V conducts public access training at local businesses to help dogs practice real-world skills. By welcoming SD4V’s service dogs in training into your space, you directly contribute to their readiness and the veteran’s success. Merchants like Lowe’s, Walmart, Cabela’s, Target, Kohl’s, and TJ Maxx have been valuable training partners for the program.
  • Spread the Word: Know a veteran in the Upstate South Carolina, western North Carolina, or Georgia area who might benefit from this program? Share SD4V’s story. The program is open to veterans of any era, and for many, simply learning it exists is the first step toward healing. Follow and share their mission on social media to help connect more veterans with this life-changing opportunity.

Join Us in Making a Difference

At Company Distilling, our Gather Around Giving program empowers communities by supporting organizations like Service Dogs for Veterans. We invite you to join us in this mission. By supporting SD4V, you contribute to a cause that honors our nation’s heroes and helps them find their footing again — not alone, but with a loyal partner by their side.

Visit Service Dogs for Veterans’ website to learn more about how you can get involved. Together, we can help more veterans write a new chapter of hope.

Company Distilling’s Gather Around Giving program supports nonprofits that create positive change in their communities. To learn more about our initiatives and how you can participate, visit our Gather Around Giving page.