Victory Service Dogs @ Denver

About Victory Service Dogs:

Victory Service Dogs (VSD), based in Colorado Springs, is expanding its life-changing programs to the Denver area to meet growing demand from veterans, first responders, and individuals with disabilities seeking greater independence through service dogs. Over the past 10 years, VSD has supported more than 300 service dog teams, helping clients build confidence, connection, and stability. The Denver expansion will allow VSD to reach more people in need, establish local partnerships, and host regular training sessions and events. By extending our proven model to Denver, we aim to create more victories for those who have served and those striving for independence.

Why Denver needs VSD now:

Large, growing metro with many potential clients. The Denver–Aurora–Lakewood MSA is ~3.0M people. Denver County alone has ~27,100 veterans, and Aurora estimates ~22,700 veterans (about 8% of adults). That’s a sizable concentration of potential VSD clients in the core counties.

Veterans face elevated mental-health risk in Colorado. Colorado reports that veterans are ~7% of the population but 15% of all suicide deaths (VA data also show persistently high national veteran suicide rates). This underscores the value of complementary supports like service-dog training.

First responders carry heavy behavioral-health burdens. SAMHSA estimates ~30% of first responders develop behavioral-health conditions (incl. PTSD) versus ~20% in the general population; Colorado and Denver research/news echo time-pressure and recovery-gap issues for EMS and other responders.

Service-dog interventions are evidence-supported. Peer-reviewed and veterinary-medicine studies associate PTSD service dogs with reduced symptom severity, improved functioning, and better family climate—exactly the outcomes VSD trains for.