Firefighters With PTSD is now Across All Lines! Same mission. Same Team. New Name.
Across All Lines K9 Coaching
We want you to feel seen, safe, and hopeful for the next stage of your journey.
Donations help us keep our program moving forward and keep it free for those we are able to work with.
Through this program we help first responders and veterans owner train their own service dogs to help mitigate their service related PTSD
WHAT ARE SERVICE DOGS?
The ADA states service dogs
- Are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person's disability.
- Are ANY breed and any size of dog.
- Are trained to perform a task directly related to a person's disability
- ARE NOT: Required to be certified or go through a professional training program
- ARE NOT: Required to wear a vest or other ID that indicates they’re a service dog
- ARE NOT: Emotional support (ESA) or comfort dogs, because providing emotional support or comfort is not a task related to a person’s disability
The difference between a emotional support animal and a service animal is as written by the ADA
If the dog’s mere presence provides comfort, it is not a service animal under the ADA. But if the dog is trained to perform a task related to a person’s disability, it is a service animal under the ADA. For example, if the dog has been trained to sense that an anxiety attack is about to happen and take a specific action to help avoid the attack or lessen its impact, the dog is a service animal.
- ADA.gov *ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act Protects people with disabilities from discrimination
2022 Coaching PROGRAM
Service dogs are a proven way to help those struggling with disabling mental health symptoms improve their quality of life. Service dogs help mitigate the symptoms that keep these men and women isolated and alone. Service dogs are an excellent addition to a treatment plan, not a replacement for a treatment plan.
Access to a service dog is not as easy as you would think. A fully trained dog is expensive and not always readily available as it takes 1-2 years to train depending on age of dog. We aim to help fill that gap by helping first responders and veteran train their own puppy or dog for free.
We believe that our first responders and veterans give so much that they shouldn't have to go in debt to better their mental health due to symptoms that their selfless service triggered. During the 2020 pandemic we took that time to design a coaching program that helps first responders and veterans with PTSD to owner train their own service dogs.
Tanks training has been the model for our coaching program.
*Pictured: Amanda and Tank
ONLINE COMPONENT
Through videos and walk throughs of commands with different ways to teach it you will learn everything from basic puppy obedience through to public access and task training for your needs.
ONE ON ONE
Send videos, questions, or concerns anytime. If we need to do a live online session we can or we can get together in person to work through an obstacle at any point.
MEET UPS
Monthly or bi monthly (dependent on the group and time of year) we like to get together with the other teams in training to work together in public places. Field trip are essential to growing your skills.
CAMARADERIE
We are growing this program so we are keeping groups small but hope that those in this program have a sense of camaraderie with the others in the group. We all grow together and can communicate as a group each week on achievements, struggles and fears on commands or upcoming assignments.
Check out our past and present service dog teams
Amanda & Tank
Renee & Minnie
Renee & Minnie
Amanda has over 20 years in healthcare and is the daughter of a Navy Veteran. She is also our Vice President and one of our coaches.
Tank was donated by the Tillman family in Texas and is a service dog in training (SDiT) performing tasks for Amanda and is providing public education in the community as a face of the charity.
Renee & Minnie
Renee & Minnie
Renee & Minnie
Renee is a retired firefighter and is a part of our service dog training program.
Minnie is a Goldendoodle and has always been tuned in to Renee's emotions so we are helping her train Minnie as her service dog.
Renee also has a puppy (Aggie) we are starting work with.
Kim & Watson
Renee & Minnie
Renee & Aggie
Kim is a firefighter and a new part of our program in 2022. Kim and Watson are working with a trainer in her area for puppy obedience.
Watson is already tuning into Kim's needs, they are growing into a great team.
Don't be confused by Watson, he is a black German Shepherd just like Tank. We will have to make sure to label all the pictures we take with and of them.
Renee & Aggie
Tom and Willie
Renee & Aggie
Aggie is Minnie's little sister who is learning the ropes from day 1. Aggie is currently in the puppy stage and we are working with her on leash work and obedience.
Renee is working 2 teams right now which is a lot of work but she is willing to put in the time and so are we.
Tom and Willie
Tom and Willie
Tom and Willie
Tom is a firefighter and joins us with his newest rescue Willie. Willie has instantly bonded with Tom which makes him a great candidate for Service Dog training.
Tom and his wife have already been doing a great job working with Willie on obedience and fear training.
Mike and Vinny
Tom and Willie
Tom and Willie
Mike is a veteran and flight nurse. Vinny is the cutest lil SDiT with big personality and tiny legs that seem to have no trouble keeping up.
Vinny was instantly bonded to Mike and gauges his emotions well.
Jeremy & Arie
Jeremy & Arie
Jeremy & Arie
Jeremy is a firefighter in Georgia
His service dog Arie is fully trained but they are looking to add a few new tasks and keep up on the old ones with us.
We enjoy seeing their journey and seeing all the great things they are doing together. Things our teams will also be doing some day soon.
Adam & Flash
Jeremy & Arie
Jeremy & Arie
Adam is a Army National Guard Veteran and joins our program with Aggie's brother, Flash!
Flash is picking up quick to basic obedience and going out in public.
Flash is in tune with Adams emotions and that is already growing as they work together through training sessions.
Jeremy & Mack
Jeremy & Arie
Jeremy & Mack
Jeremy is a former firefighter in Texas who is training with a trainer down in his home state.
Jeremy and Mack are a part of our group virtually for extra tips, tricks, coaching and the comradery of the other first responders going through the same journey.
Thank you for sponsoring our service dog teams
Dog goggles
Gear Storage
Dog goggles
Thank you for donating 4 pairs of dog goggles with extra lenses to our service dogs in training. They are loving them!
Hydration
Gear Storage
Dog goggles
Thank you for donating water bottles with a screw on dog bowl on the bottom. Good for the handler and the service dog.
Gear Storage
Gear Storage
Gear Storage
Thank you for the donation of 10 back packs for our service dog teams in training. This will serve as their team go bag with all their gear needed for an outing.
Check out our past and present ESA Teams (Emotional Support
Hailey & Levi
Hailey & Levi
Hailey & Levi
Hailey is the daughter of a retired police officer with PTSD and is part of our ESA program. You also might recognize her as she is also on our team and helps in all areas.
Both of Hailey dogs are rescues and like most pit bulls I have met, are the sweetest boys. Midas (on the left) is the sweetest old man soul, he is learning a lot but is older so everything isn't as easy for him. Levi (on the right) is a head strong, active sweetheart that we are working with specifically for Hailey's needs.
Will & Nala
Hailey & Levi
Hailey & Levi
William is the teenage son of veteran parents. Both mom and dad are Army veterans.
Nala is a golden retriever puppy that we are helping with some obedience training that will then move into some emotional support help for anything that may be helpful for William and the rest of the family.
She is sweet, curious and enjoys her training sessions. We can already see she likes having a job.
Tracy & Elvis
Hailey & Levi
Tracy & Elvis
Tracy is a retired police officer and was a part of our service dog training program in 2021.
Elvis is a English Bulldog and has been by Tracy's side through thick and thin. He has been very helpful to her mental wellness and is such an asset to this amazing officer
Elvis is so sweet and well mannered, great to work with but due to his stamina and ability to "keep up" with a full days work he is better suited for ESA.
Past service dog recipients
2017 | Matt
2017 | Matt
2017 | Matt
Matt is a retired fire Capitan, author and the founder/president of our nonprofit as well as one of our k9 coaches.
Jax was the first dog in our program and is performing tasks for Matt. Jax also provides public education in the community as a face of the charity.
2018 | John
2017 | Matt
2017 | Matt
John is a retired police officer. "Due to my health I am unable to fly or drive/ride long distances. Matt was very helpful in the entire process. Ziva has helped me so much since she has gotten here. I feel a lot more comfortable staying home by myself now. She is with me all the time where ever I go. She needs to make sure the scene is safe."
- John, GA
2019 | Troy
2019 | Troy
2019 | Troy
Troy is an Air Force veteran and retired fire captain in Minnesota. We were honored to place service dog Kato with Troy. Kato fit right in to his new life with Troy and his family within days of placement.
We thank Becca Curtis at Off Leash K9 Training for training Kato.
2020 | Pat
2019 | Troy
2019 | Troy
Pat "Gumby" is an Army veteran and first responder at Foreston Fire.
Dee-ka has retired from our program after 2 litters of puppies. While she is not a task trained service dog, she is a well trained, beautiful gal that provides Gumby and his wife protection as well as emotional support.