‘They Are Taking That Love to Their Veteran’

When Cheryl learned Leashes of Valor was her new neighbor, she knew it couldn’t be a coincidence. She had wanted to get involved with our nonprofit for years after following another volunteer’s journey fostering future service dogs.

She started volunteering as a puppy snuggler in March, helping care for dogs in the evenings after work. Then Cheryl began fostering for us. Her husband served in the Marine Corps, and she knows how dogs can help make people’s lives better. Cheryl also trained the family’s Golden Doodle, who passed away at age 13.

She loves the training aspect of fostering and watching a dog pick up a new task. “It’s fun to see what they can do.” And while it’s definitely hard to open your heart and home to a dog and then say goodbye—“I can’t say you don’t get attached, you’re still human,” Cheryl says—“you’re pouring your love into that dog and then they are taking that love to their veteran.”