DES MOINES, Iowa — The Puppy Jake Foundation celebrated the graduation of three service dogs and the retirement of three dogs on Saturday.

Founder Becky Beach started the Puppy Jake Foundation after she began volunteering with a local service dog organization. While fostering Jake, she realized how many people need service dogs and the unmet need in the veteran community.

Volunteers spend roughly 2 years training a service dog before they are matched with a veteran. Over the past 10 years, the Puppy Jake Foundation has helped provide more than 50 service dogs to veterans.

On Saturday, the air was filled with emotion as three dogs graduated from the Foundation and began their career as service dogs and three dogs ended their service and prepared to live the easy life.

“It was just kind of fun to see those that were just starting out in their career and then seeing those that are just now going to go live their best life as a pet dog,” said Lisa Russel, the CEO of Puppy Jake Foundation.

Retiring a service dog is up to the veteran, but they are often retired once they reach a certain age or once the veteran no longer feels the need for service. Many of these dogs remain in the care of their veteran after their service is complete.

“It really reinforces what we’re doing is making a difference that, you know, that the dogs are actually leading productive lives,” said Russel. “They’re serving their veterans until really physically or age wise, they can’t.”

The ceremony was also special for veterans and families who gained a new companion. One family was particularly touched by Saturday’s ceremony.

Melissa Halvorson’s son died in 2021 while serving in the United States Marines and was honored to have a service dog named after her son.

“One of Blaine’s former coworkers told his story about how he passed and that he was a gunnery sergeant who was known by Gunny Hal and so that’s why they chose the name Hal,” said Halvorson. “We were so thrilled to have been selected, and it was unbeknownst to us that she had even nominated him.”

The Halvorson Family has been able to meet Hal several time and are overjoyed to know a service dog named in their son’s honor is now helping a veteran.

One veteran who retired his service dog today is excited to give his faithful friend a life of ease.

Marc Helm received his service dog Bucky in 2018 and say’s having a service dog has helped him tremendously.

“I was not going to be able to function well enough to keep a job, to keep my family, to be the husband or father I needed to be. And with his help, I’ve been able to push through to where I have got a great job,” said Helm.

Helm says Bucky has also helped him through his struggles with PTSD and nightmare issues.

“He really helped with some things that other forms of therapy weren’t able to reach and quite break through with. I tried cognitive processing therapy and some prolonged exposure as well as just other more traditional things. And Bucky, with his presence, really helped me break through some of the issues,” said Helm.

Helm says that even though Bucky’s service is over, he will stay with the family and live out his golden years in the open air.

Russel says that seeing people gather and share their stories has reenforced just how important the work that the Puppy Jake Foundation does is for veterans.

To learn more about the Puppy Jake Foundation and their work visit their website.