Program Update: The Impact of Losing WWSDP Support

Lani Rethaber, Executive Director

Patriot K9s of Wisconsin has faced a major shift with the loss of funding from the Wounded Warriors Service Dog Project (WWSDP). We want to be transparent about how this has impacted our program, and what has not been affected.

Many of our readers may not be familiar with WWSPD. WWSPD was a federally funded service dog program supported by the Department of War (DOW) and designed to help ensure veterans nationwide could access trained service dogs and continued support.

Patriot K9s of Wisconsin was not the only organization impacted. All 28 organizations in the national network—serving veterans in all 50 states—have now lost this funding. That change has created immediate strain across the country and has jeopardized the stability of service dog programs for veterans.

What WWSDP Support Made Possible

WWSDP helped strengthen the day-to-day financial stability required to raise, train, and place service dogs. That support contributed to essentials that many people don’t see—consistent training hours, veterinary care, food, equipment, transportation, and the follow-up support our veteran teams rely on after placement.

What Has Changed

Losing WWSDP has created real constraints. Specifically:

• Fewer dogs in training at one time due to increased financial pressure per dog.
• Longer timelines as we pace intake and training to match available resources.
• Less flexibility for non-emergency needs, including travel, gear replacement, and additional training sessions including recertifications.
• More strain on staff and volunteers as we work to keep quality high while stretching resources further. We have had to reduce the number of staff we have available and put on hold some expansion positions, including a kennel worker and RGCI support personnel.

This is the reality of service dog work: it requires steady funding to stay consistent, ethical, and effective.

What Has Not Changed

Some things remain non-negotiable:

• We do not cut corners on training standards or safety.
• Our dogs still receive proper care and vet support.
• Our commitment to veterans remains the mission—always.

How We’re Moving Forward

This change pushed us to build a stronger foundation. Our focus now is:

• Diversifying funding so we are not dependent on one source of support.
• Growing monthly giving to stabilize our training pipeline.
• Building local partnerships and sponsorships to reduce costs and expand capacity.

How You Can Help

If you’re looking for the most direct way to keep dogs in training, it’s consistent support:

• Become a monthly donor
• Host a fundraiser (big or small)
• Sponsor a training milestone (vet visit, equipment, food, or gear)
• Share our mission and invite others to support or volunteer

Thank you for standing with us through this transition. We are still training, still serving, and still committed to providing life-changing service dogs to the veterans who need them most.

Catie Dodson Retires from PK9

Patriot K9s' Program Training Manager, Catie Dodson has retired. She started at Patriot K9s in 2022.

Catie has provided Patriot K9s with a unique blend of experience in veterinary care and service dog training. She has overseen many changes at Patriot K9s, including the move to our new campus on Dixie Avenue. She also played an integral part in the development of Patriot K9s' new online course. Her contributions will continue to impact veterans long after her departure.

Catie has always described her job at PK9s as being her "heart job." Patriot K9s staff, board, and veterans will miss her, not to mention her service dog Baz (Belgian Tervuren) and her newest pack addition, Bran (Belgian sheepdog). We all wish them well in their next set of adventures. We look forward to seeing Catie again as a volunteer instructor for our canine first aid classes. She will always be part of the Patriot K9 family.

Our new location has provided new opportunities for our service dog teams through the use of scenario rooms. Patriot K9s would like to acknowledge the generous contributions of two of our supporters who have sponsored our first two scenario rooms. We thank the Peters family for the bedroom that can be used to train dogs for nightmare interruption. The yellow and blue colors of Ukraine honor their son Andrew, who died while serving in combat in Ukraine. We also extend our appreciation to Doctor Austin Belton and Sharon Belton for creating the Belton Family Medical Scenario Room. We hope to complete additional rooms in the future including a kitchen training space.

David Zuke - Board President

As new president of the board of directors, David's role will be to help guide the organization's direction and work with the board and leadership team to support the mission of providing trained 
service dogs to veterans.

Robert Kittel - Board Treasurer

Robert brings his skills as a former bank Chief Financial Officer to ensure the organization's financial records are accurate and up-to-date and that all financial transactions are properly recorded and reported. 
Rob has been a board member since 2021.

Gary Bezucha - Board Member

Gary has been a board member since 2021. He has been a Wausau resident for 30 years. He has spent his entire career in health care, as a physical therapist and then in healthcare administration.

Cassandra Powell - Board Member

Cassandra, a Navy veteran and mother, has served on the board since 2023. She and her golden retriever, Angus, became a service dog team through Patriot K9s. Cassandra contributes a veteran's perspective to the board.

Megan Bozinski - Board Member

Megan joined Patriot K9s as a volunteer in 2019 and became a board member in 2023. In both her job and personal life, she has witnessed first-hand the struggles that veterans experience and that fuels her passion for Patriot K9s.

Dr. Wendy Nelson - Board Member

Dr. Wendy has been on our board since 2023. She has been a practicing veterinarian in the Wittenberg-Birnamwood area for over 30 years. She considers it an honor to be a member of an organization devoted to helping veterans.

Heather Peters - Board Member

Heather is the spouse and mother of Army veterans. She joined the board in 2024 following the death of her son Andrew, a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Andrew was killed in action in 2023. Heather adopted Andrew's service dog Pepper and they became a new PK9 team. What drives her is the opportunity to assist other veterans in need to honor her late son.

Mark Wilkes - Board Member

PK9s welcomes Mark as a new board member. He has been involved in veteran support groups for about 20 years. He is passionate about helping veterans. Being involved in veteran support groups, especially Patriot K9s, is a way for him to give back to those that served.

Brad Rothermel - Board Member

Brad is also a new member of the board. He is an Army veteran who is a graduate of the program with chocolate lab Delilah. There isn't anything he enjoys more than being out in nature with Delilah. In addition to supporting PK9s, he has dedicated a lot of his time helping disabled youth and veterans get back into 
the outdoors.