Registration is now open for the National Mutt Strutt, an annual walk that raises awareness and funds for Guardian Angels Service Dogs. This amazing organization provides service dogs to veterans and first responders. Best of all, you can fundraise and complete the walk from wherever you are! Launching on October 10th, which is World Mental Health Day, this event is an easy, fun way to support a very worthy cause.

Know Before You Go

Register ahead, form a team of your friends, family, or coworkers, and fundraise for this meaningful cause. You can choose between three distances: 1 mile, 2.2 miles, or 22 miles. Then, between October 10th and October 22nd, complete your walk!

The Mutt Strutt has taken place for the past few years in select cities, but this year, it’s fully virtual and nationwide. Carol Borden, Founder and CEO of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, explains:

“We expanded the Mutt Strut to reach more supporters and to help place more service dogs with veterans and first responders. By walking together—apart, we’re uniting communities nationwide in a powerful show of support for those who have sacrificed so much.”

All About Guardian Angels Service Dogs

Founded in 2010, Guardian Angels Service Dogs is a Florida-based nonprofit organization that donates medical service dogs to people living with disabilities, focusing particularly on veterans and first responders. As of 2024, the organization has donated 430 service dogs across 33 states. The organization pairs those in need with fully trained service dogs and then provides lifetime support, including resources and mental health assistance.

Mental health is a huge concern for veterans and first responders, who are more likely to suffer from PTSD, anxiety, trauma, and suicidal thoughts. Service dogs can help by reducing isolation, forming an important emotional bond, and assisting with disabilities like motor and hearing impairment, traumatic brain injury, and seizure disorders.

However, because of their intensive training, which typically begins when they are puppies and includes extensive socialization, obedience training, and specialized training to assist with different disabilities, service dogs are expensive and can be out of reach for many Americans. Training a service dog can take up to 2 years, and people in need of one often spend years on waiting lists. According to the National Service Animal Registry (NSAR), fully trained service dogs typically cost $15,000 to $30,000, and they can even cost up to $50,000 depending on the specific training needed! As you can imagine, paying out of pocket for a service dog is a considerable financial strain, which is where nonprofits like Guardian Angels (and your fundraising!) can help.

How to Get Started

If you’re ready to get started, head over to the Mutt Strutt website. There, you can register to walk or start with a direct donation. You can also create your own fundraiser page, customize it with your pictures and why mental health causes matter to you, and build a team by sharing with friends and family. After you walk, you can share your accomplishments on social media using the hashtag #NationalMuttStrut. We can’t wait to (virtually) walk with you to support our veterans and first responders!

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