Liberty Dogs brings veteran service dog program to Las Vegas

Liberty Dogs is expanding its operations into Las Vegas to connect veterans facing mental health challenges with service dogs. The Nevada nonprofit currently runs a 27-acre training campus in Reno and is seeking volunteer puppy raisers to support its growing program.

Rich Earl served seven years in the Army and returned home with anxiety, depression, and health issues linked to burn pits. He described his transition to civilian life as difficult, noting that he held seven or eight jobs and went through a divorce.

“I was proud of serving, but I also didn’t feel like I fit in,” Earl said. “I had a hard time maintaining a job. I had seven to eight jobs. Got a divorce. And I was struggling.”

Earl sought help after receiving a cancer diagnosis last year. He found Liberty Dogs after encountering long waits and high costs in his search for a service dog. He was paired with a dog named Reagan. After two weeks of training and a month living with the dog, Earl said the partnership gave him a renewed sense of purpose.

“I feel like I have a purpose. I think that’s important for veterans, especially when some of them are struggling with depression,” Earl said. “I think knowing that you have someone else, you know, relying on you to take care of them is important.”

Liberty Dogs uses purpose-bred and shelter dogs that undergo 16 to 18 months of training with the organization’s staff. These dogs then return to the Reno campus for advanced preparation. Veterans participate in a free, all-inclusive two-week training period at the campus to work with their assigned dogs.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that approximately 9% of Nevada’s population are veterans. Liberty Dogs is now accepting applications from those interested in the program.