About Friends of Warriors
Our Mission
Friends of Warriors (FOW) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping military veterans who are suffering from PTSD find a loving companion dog. We believe that dogs are a powerful ally, offering critical mental and emotional support to those integrating back into daily life.
The Inspiration
The idea for FOW was born from a personal journey. The founder's daughter, after finishing her service in the U.S. Army, found a form of relief from her stress and pains while training Jiu Jitsu at Six Blades dojo in San Pedro.
The dojo is owned and operated by Sensei Brian Mendez, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who earned the Purple Heart after serving three tours in Iraq. Sensei Brian has an emotional support French bulldog named Baron Bolo. Despite having no formal training, Bolo shares a powerful,
deep bond with Sensei Brian. The comfort Bolo provided to the Sensei during moments of deep thought highlighted the profound connection a veteran and a dog can share.
When the founder's daughter was unable to continue training, this experience motivated the creation of FOW—a way to extend the healing power of this unique bond to all veterans facing similar struggles.
How We Help
Our purpose is to match veterans with the perfect companion. We work with reputable pet shelters and other locations to acquire animals. Our services include:
● Companion Matching: Finding the right dog for each veteran.
● Training Assistance: Offering resources for training service animals or emotional support pets.
● Financial Assistance: Helping with the financial costs of their canine buddy's veterinary care.
Thank You
Friends of Warriors thanks all those who have served in the United States Military.
