The Loyalty of Dogs: Honoring Veterans and First Responders Through K9 Care Montana

“This soldier, I realized, must have had friends at home and in his regiment, yet he lay there deserted by all except his dog. I looked on, unmoved, at battles which decided the future of nations. Tearless, I had given orders which brought to death thousands. Yet here I was stirred, profoundly stirred, stirred to tears, and by what? By the grief of one dog.”

-Napoleon Bonaparte, on finding a dog beside the body of his dead master, licking his face and howling on a moonlit field after a battle. Napoleon was haunted by this scene until his own death.

Throughout history, two kinds of animal have consistently and reliably stood by man during times of war. Both are extremely plentiful here in Montana. One is the horse, and the other is the dog. Modern weaponry has shifted the definition of cavalry into a more mechanized sense; but dogs are still utilized on more than just the front lines.

Perhaps more importantly, these four-legged companions are there for our veteran warriors even after the battle is over. It’s a good example of why all dogs go to heaven, but the same cannot be said about all humans.

While most citizens go about their daily lives without a second thought of the battles faced by our veterans after coming home, men like David Riggs are exception to the rule. Residing just outside of Livingston, MT, he founded the nonprofit “K9 Care Montana”. With over four decades of experience in breeding and training, David began producing litters of Labrador Retriever puppies as service dogs in 2009.

It’s not a cheap endeavor. The average price for a service dog in the United States usually costs between $22,000 and $60,000, depending on what tasks the dog is required to know for the handler's disability. K9 Care Montana provides these dogs to their recipients at NO COST. They’re able to accomplish this through fundraising ad donations.

In fact, all K9 Care activities and resources are provided at no cost to recipients, with the exception of air transport. They are fully funded by generous private & corporate tax-exempt donations. David’s passion and commitment to veterans, first responders, and children with autism is a true testament to his dedication at K9 Care Montana. To date, his nonprofit has exposure in two Montana newspapers, and New York Times bestseller novel “Travels with Casey.”

Let’s make sure our veterans, first responders, and children get the support they need by recognizing the undying loyalty a dog provides. You can learn more about David’s organization at www.k9caremontana.org. You can make a donation in someone's name, or in memory of a loved one (including pets). If you are donating in memory of a person their name will be featured on the “In Loving Memory" section of the website.

Accepted donations are via PayPal, or by check. If mailing a donation by check, you can send to the following address:

David Riggs

CEO K9 Care Montana, Inc.

POBox 490

Livingston ,MT 59047