Battle Buddy Bulletin: Edition 5
October 2026
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As we approach the holiday season, I’d like to just take a few moments and let you know how appreciative I’ve been of our team. Our team consists of volunteers, fosters, staff, board members, generous donors, sponsors, and the grantors, our rescue resources such as Road Dogg Rescue, PAWS, etc. Additionally, we train our veteran teams in the community, and they support our every training class and thus are also a part of our team. These include, to name a few… Lowes, Walmart, Kohl’s, United Fidelity Bank, Beast Code, the Transportation Security Administration at the Destin/FWB Airport, the School of Nursing at Northwest Florida College in Niceville, Task Force Pizza, Peppers Mexican Grill and Cantina in Shalimar, Buffalo Wild Wings in Navarre, the Air Force Armament Museum, Publix, Ross Dept. Store, and Turkey Creek Park in Niceville.
We also appreciate our veteran teams, not only for their service to our nation, but also for their diligence in accomplishing the required training and instruction. Their dedication during training not only helps them become proficient handlers but also helps to solidify the service dog/handler bond which makes for a successful long-lasting relationship.
To continue our mission successfully, we are in constant need of volunteers, fosters, and board members. Will you consider assisting us in these areas? If interested, please contact either me or Sam and we can give you an overview of each position. Please help us to continue to “Save lives at both ends of the Leash.” We can’t do it without you!
We thank you and hope you enjoy this holiday season which veterans have helped secure for our great country! We wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving and a joyous upcoming Christmas holiday season. We look forward to beginning the 2027 year with each and every one of you. Stay Pawsitive!
Dennis Krebs
Executive Director
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The superstars from Pensacola Jeeps and host Pensacola Harley-Davidson braved the heat to wash cars, jeeps, trucks, motorcycles, and even a FIRE TRUCK to support us!
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Combat Vets Motorcycle Association
Vanity Ride
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The CVMA hosted a fun vanity ride, and we’re so grateful for their support. We appreciate every rider who showed up to stand behind our mission.
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Our community continues to show incredible support, and we couldn’t do what we do without them.
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Twin Cities Elks Lodge provided a grant that ensures our rescued‑to‑trained service dogs are fully prepared for their veterans.
This support provided essential training supplies and covered initial veterinary care for four service dogs.
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Crane Aerospace & Crane Charitable Funds team has been supporting nonprofits through the Crane Fund each year, and this year, Healing Paws for Warriors was chosen as one of those organizations.
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Tru Pumbing & Gas donated a percentage of all their service calls in the month of August to Healing Paws for Warriors. We truly couldn’t do what we do without the support and kindness of businesses like theirs.
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Find these stories and many more like them on our Facebook page!
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Volunteer Meetings*
October 10th @ 10am
*Every 2nd Saturday of the month at Task Force Pizza in FWB.
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Dog Daze
October 3 Rescheduled- October 17
8am-5pm
FWB Landing
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St Rita's Knights of Columbus Golf Tournament
October 12 (Columbus Day)
7:30am-4pm
The Links @ Sandestin
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Eggs on the Beach
November 7
9am-2pm
Seascape Town Center
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Battle Buddy Gauntlet
November 7
7:15am-3pm
Average Joe's CrossFit in Navarre, FL
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Pensacola Jeeps Full Throttle for Vets, Show & Shine
November 14
7:30am-4:30pm
5 Flags Speedway
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Barks & Brews Christmas Festival
December 5
10am-3pm
3rd Planet Brewing
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A foster home becomes the vital bridge between a rescued shelter dog’s past and its future as a veteran’s service companion. By opening your home for a short time, you give that dog the chance to decompress, feel safe, and learn the basics of good manners. You also play a key role in helping our trainer by sharing details on the dog’s characteristics or strengths. It’s a meaningful, hands-on way to change a dog’s life, and ultimately, a veteran’s life too. Interested in becoming a foster? Apply here
At our last Healing Paws for Warriors board meeting, we formally recognized our current dedicated fosters. Thank you to Stasia, Lisa N., Tim, Lisa R., and Dawn! Missing for the pictures, but not forgotten, are Nancy and Mike H. Thank you all!
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The Pairing event was incredible. After completing two weeks of classroom academics without yet knowing their dogs, each veteran was finally matched with their new service dog and began the hands‑on portion of training. This moment marks the very first meeting with their new “battle buddy,” and it’s a milestone not only for the veteran but for their entire family.
Once the classroom training is successfully completed and the teams have been paired, the next 6 - 8 weeks is all accomplished in public training. This training is all practical... exploring various businesses, medical facilities, restaurants, stores, the airport, etc.. It is meant to build confidence and assist in the total bonding process.
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I am a Navy veteran and have severe PTSD. Because of this, there are days when leaving the house feels like moving a brick building and even though I'm surrounded by a support system, I feel alone. So I applied for a service dog. My first pairing wasn't right for me( because sometimes they're not and that's okay). Nothing was wrong with her, I just couldn't match her energy needs living in an apartment. Then I was paired with Trooper. Trooper was abused and shot during his time with his first owners. Luckily, he was taken to a local vet and they found the shot was a through and through and nothing was broken. The wound was wrapped, treated for infection, and was nurtured back to health by Stella, Lindsey and her tireless team at Road Dogg Rescue. Trooper was discovered by HP4W and they saw his potential and recruited him to be a service dog. A few months later, he was paired with me. Trooper has fundamentally changed my mental health. On my hardest days, he is the reason I pull myself out of bed- and sometimes the nudge that pushes me OFF the bed. He gives me a sense of purpose that I sometimes struggle to find on my own. But he is so much more than a routine; he is my daily source of laughter and my portable safe place. Having him by my side brings a profound, grounding comfort that words can barely do justice to. I am finally finding true happiness again. Because Trooper isn't just a service dog. He's MY service dog.
-Testimonial from Jeralynn
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We welcome our new Veteran Support Specialist, Reverend Clelia Pinza-Garrity, LCSW! We are so very fortunate to have her available for our veteran service dog teams who may need additional assistance.
The Reverend Clelia Pinza-Garrity, LCSW, is a Veteran Support Specialist for Healing Paws for Warriors, providing mental health therapeutic interventions, counseling services, crisis intervention, and emergency services, as needed.
Clelia is a native of New York City. She has a master’s degree in social work and is licensed as both a clinical social worker and hospice chaplain. She is currently on staff at Pattison Professional Counseling in Ft. Walton Beach where she specializes in providing services for those who have experienced trauma(s) at some point in their lives.
In the late 1970s, Clelia was one of the founders of the hospice program in America. During the 1990s, Clelia worked with projects throughout the United States developing social service and medical treatment programs for people living with HIV/AIDS, and women and children who were victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking. Additionally, Clelia worked in Haiti for over 20 years coordinating the delivery of healthcare to men, women and children who live in rural areas.
Clelia’s passion for assisting veterans suffering from various traumas is demonstrated by volunteering both her time and skill set at Healing Paws for Warriors to provide these valuable services to both veterans and their family members.
Clelia has a daughter and grandson, both of whom live in New York City.
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To get in touch with Clelia:
Normal office hours, please contact the main line at (850) 716-8198.
After hours contact her at, (850) 855-3357.
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Q&A: An interview with one of Healing Paws' K-9 heroes.
1. What is your name?
Rita
2. What is your breed?
Belgian Malinois Mix
3. What is your age?
Almost 2 years old (My Birthday is December 30th)
4. Who is your veteran and when were you first partnered together?
My Veteran is Clark, and we have been happily together since January 22, 2026.
5. What are some of your favorite activities when you're not working?
My absolute favorite thing is going fishing with my veteran and then coming home to belly rubs.
6. What are your favorite treats and toys?
I really like crunching on beef stick treats and any toy that makes a good rattling noise!
7. What are some ways in which you help your veteran?
I accompany my veteran everywhere so he can be confident and thrive.
8. What are some ways in which you help your family?
I am a friend to the entire family and provide pure energy and joy to all.
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"More than just a great companion, Rita has helped me tremendously over the last several months. Having her by my side has pushed me to get out of the house, be more active, and open up socially in ways I really needed. She has been a total game-changer for me, and I’d love to share our story with the community!"
-Clark
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"Save a Veteran, Rescue a Dog"
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