Our Mission
Leashes of Valor is a national nonprofit working to provide a highly-trained service dog to every post-9/11 Veteran who needs one to ease the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Military Sexual Trauma (MST), an underlying trauma to PTSD. Our mission is as simple as it is critical: Bring service dogs and post-9/11 Veterans together to enrich the lives of both. Follow-up communication with our Veterans after they leave us continues for life. This level of dedication is how we are setting a new standard for excellence in the world of service dogs.
Our Story
Leashes of Valor is a non-profit organization founded in May 2017 by Dozer and Axel LLC. Founders
Danique Masingill, Jason Haag and Matt Masingill are all United States Military Veterans with over 40 years of combined service and expertise in service dog policy and law, military canines and canine training. We know the healing power of canines because we’ve experienced it ourselves.
Our Facility
Leashes of Valor is located on a 20-acre farm in rural Virginia, where we have our live-in facility for our Warriors and service dogs. At max operation, our facility graduates three service dog teams per month. Training a service dog is expensive, costing upwards of $25,000 per dog. This is due to the long period of time necessary to ensure the quality of training these dogs receive. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Veterans who receive a Leashes of Valor service dog pay nothing.
Our Team
Danique Masingill
Jason Haag
Matt Masingill
Leashes of Valor President and co-founder Danique Masingill is a Navy Veteran and leading expert in the service dog industry helping advance both law and science surrounding service dogs as treatment for PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. Danique completed graduate and undergraduate degrees at Syracuse University, where she established herself as an expert in the field of military working canines and service dogs.
CEO and co-founder Jason Haag spent 13 years in the Marine Corps before retiring as a Captain. He credits his service dog, Axel, for saving his life from PTSD after a machine gun injury sustained in an Iraqi combat mission. Featured on more than 50 news outlets, Haag tours the country educating policymakers, Warrior organizations and Warriors on the benefits of service dogs for veterans.
Director of Canine Operations and co-founder Matthew Masingill is 21-year Navy Veteran and advocate serving the Veteran and military community. His extensive experience in program management and development includes acting as the lead Warrior trainer with over 200 Warrior K-9 teams graduating and recertifying under his leadership.