Lowe’s Partners with Service Dog Non-profit to Empower Veterans and First Responders

When Laura Baker's son was wounded serving in Afghanistan, she saw something in the hospital that made a huge difference for her son and other soldiers recovering, a therapy dog. With a background in animal rescue and training working dogs, Laura said the path in front of her was obvious. She would train therapy and service dogs for veterans and first responders.

That moment in the hospital led Baker to create Hero Pups, a non-profit based out of New Hampshire that pairs veterans and first responders with support dogs. From small and humble beginnings, Hero Pups was run out of Bakers house and horse barn. With the help of donations and grants, Baker was able to purchase a building to expand Hero Pups but reaching that next step became a challenge.

"We have moved into this building just last fall, and we were so focused on the inside and being able to use the inside that we didn't get to do anything with the outside. The funds had been depleted. We had stretched the dollars as far as we could," said Laura Baker founder of Hero Pups.

That's when Lowe's stepped in to help bring Hero Pups take this next step in their mission, Baker applied for and was awarded a Lowe's Hometowns grant. When it was time to get to work, Baker was blown away as Lowe's Associates from her local store showed up ready to make magic happen. By the end of the day the outdoor space of Hero Pups was transformed. From patio furniture, fencing, to flowers, the space was given new life and purpose.

"Our intention of using this space is to be able to let the veterans and the first responders continue to come back after they've gotten their service dog and they're out in the world doing great things. But having that peer-to-peer support and that space where you feel comfortable is very, very important to having that long-term success," said Baker.

Currently, Baker says there are 231 dogs out doing service work thanks to Hero Pups. The hope is with the new space even more dogs will come through their doors and eventually back out them to help change lives.