Bringing Dogs and Veterans Together

Several years ago, mother and daughter Stephanie and Lauren Cook devised a plan to sponsor dogs that might otherwise spend the rest of their days in a local shelter and train them to be paired with veterans needing a little extra companionship. It was a brilliant idea in that veterans receive the support they need, gain a best friend along the way, and save a deserving dog from a horrible situation. 

And for all intents and purposes, everything has come together quicker than they ever could have imagined.

The Healing Hero Project is the latest to join the ranks of local 501(c)(3) organizations geared toward saving lives and healing souls, particularly among combat veterans who often struggle to transition from active military life successfully. For Stephanie and Lauren, it’s all about creating hope in the face of extreme adversity and promoting second chances — on both ends of the leash.

“We love and appreciate veterans, and we also love dogs,” Stephanie said. “Our vets have selflessly served us, but their suicide rate is too high. Lauren and I knew there had to be something practical we could do. There is an incredible amount of science behind a dog’s companionship and what it does for veterans. It’s a connection we want to help build.”

Lauren agreed. She moved to Flower Mound three years ago to bring the initiative to Texas.

“It’s humbling when someone walks up to you and says, ‘I’ve heard about you and what you’re doing,’” Lauren said. “Knowing that people are paying attention in just a short amount of time shows the impact we can make in the long term. It’s a wonderful feeling.” 

To date, The Healing Hero Project has helped place over 50 dogs into quality homes, and most of those new owners are veterans. The idea started innocently enough in Indiana, where Stephanie and Lauren sponsored a separate program that selects and trains dogs to be paired with veterans. In 2021, Lauren moved to Flower Mound and found that the rate of suicide, PTSD, depression, and anxiety among veterans was even higher in Texas than what they’d seen in Indiana. 

Lauren immediately established a nonprofit and got to work in her spare time.

Fast-forward three years, and Lauren is every bit as hands-on as she was when she first moved here. Despite working full-time as a purchasing manager in Dallas, she fosters a handful of dogs while assessing their abilities as companion dogs. 

From there, she works closely with a training facility to train the dogs before eventually pairing them with a veteran.

“Our unique program ensures that each animal has the time to decompress and learn how to trust again. We facilitate an increase in confidence by starting them on basic obedience training and allowing them to thrive while we build a bond,” she said. “Once that’s done, we get them trained and do everything we can to get them to a veteran. I’ve always got my eye on a veteran to pair them with.”

Stephanie agreed, adding that both have worked hard to spread awareness and build critical relationships in Indiana and Flower Mound. This includes partnering with Veterans Affairs, the veteran community, local organizations, and various nonprofits whose services are geared toward veterans, such as Therapeutic Recreation Group. 

“Lauren works early mornings and late nights, juggling her full-time work with the nonprofit’s duties,” Stephanie said. “Sometimes, she gets up two or three hours earlier than she has to so that she can spend time with them and spread the word. I’d say she took the ball and ran with it, and the results have been amazing in the short time she’s been in Texas.”

To learn more about The Healing Hero Project, visit thehealingheroproject.com. Every donation goes toward rescuing, rehabilitation, training, and pairing shelter pets with deserving recipients.