Leashes of Valor: Saving Lives, One Leash at a Time

It’s no secret that war takes a toll on service members. Some return from war with visible wounds and scars, but many more return with wounds invisible to the eye— that’s precisely where Leashes of Valor steps in to help. Founded in 2017 by retired Marine Corps Capt. Jason Haag, this nonprofit organization provides service dogs at no cost to wounded and disabled veterans who served during and after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. 

“One Leash Saves Two Lives,” explained Haag, which encapsulates the organization’s mission to save both the dog and the veteran it serves.

The Inspiration Behind Leashes of Valor

Jason Haag’s journey to founding Leashes of Valor is deeply personal. A Marine with three combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, Haag faced numerous physical and psychological challenges.
 

“I was injured multiple times from machine gun fire and bomb blasts. I recovered from those injuries, but it was the invisible injuries I struggled with the most,” Haag shared. After being medically retired in 2013 due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Haag experienced symptoms like nightmares, hyper-vigilance, anger, and isolation. Despite receiving treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs, it wasn’t until he received his service dog, Axel, that he began to truly recover. 

“Axel and I were together for ten years before his death in January 2023,” Haag fondly recalled. Axel’s impact on Haag’s life was both profound and transformative. 

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my service dog, Axel. Axel truly saved my life,” Haag emphasized.

“Axel and I spent many years traveling the country, educating policymakers and the public about the life-changing impacts of service dogs for veterans suffering from PTSD and other ‘unseen’ injuries of war. I wanted that for as many other veterans as possible."

The Philosophy and Impact

Motivated by his own experience, Haag founded Leashes of Valor to offer the same life-changing support to other veterans. “We’ve paired more than 32 service dogs with veterans. We’ve had zero suicides and so many success stories,” he proudly noted.

Leashes of Valor operates on the philosophy that pairing a veteran with a service dog can significantly improve their quality of life. 

“Our dogs are often from shelters, rescue groups, or are owner-surrenders. The leash saves not only the dog’s life, but that of the veteran,” Haag explained. 

Training a service dog is a long and expensive process, taking about two years and costing more than $25,000. However, the profound impact on veterans and their families makes it all worthwhile. 

“The best part of my role is seeing a veteran's face when they meet their service dog. They hope their lives will change, but they can’t yet imagine all the ways it will,” explained Haag.

“There is so much hope in their faces and demeanors, but sometimes skepticism, too, like ‘Will this be what finally helps me heal?’ And it is." 

Community Support and Engagement

The success of Leashes of Valor is also a testament to the incredible support from the Fredericksburg community. 

“We couldn't have asked for a more generous and supportive community,” Haag said. "This includes individuals and families who’ve volunteered, hosted fundraisers, held donation drives, and fostered our service dog candidates.” The local business community has also been instrumental in supporting the organization’s mission.

One inspiring story from Leashes of Valor’s journey involved a hoarding situation in a neighboring county. 

“Weeks after moving to our Fredericksburg location in February 2023, our trainers learned about an elderly woman with 28 puppies. She took wonderful care of them, but it was overwhelming. Our trainers did an evaluation and planned to get two puppies, but they brought home six,” Haag recalled. The unexpected addition of six puppies was "a challenge," but the community’s support made it possible to integrate them into the program successfully.

Leashes of Valor also frequently hosts events to engage the community and raise funds. 

“We always have events planned, and several of our service dogs in training are at every event. You can find a list of our events on our website at leashesofvalor.org,” Haag mentioned. One notable event series is the Valor Cup Tournament, which helps raise money for their mission, and information about all upcoming tournaments is available at valorcup.org.  

Continuing the Mission

Leashes of Valor continues to expand its reach and impact, always looking for new ways to support veterans. One key aspect of their program is their robust foster system for service dog candidates. 

“We are always looking for fosters and have occasional, short-term, and long-term opportunities available. The more fosters we have, the more dogs we can have in our program and the more veterans we can serve,” Haag explained. The organization provides all necessary supplies and training for fosters, ensuring the dogs receive the best possible care and preparation for their future roles.

Haag also expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the greater Fredericksburg community. 

“I want to thank this incredible community for everything they’ve done for Leashes of Valor. We couldn’t have done it without you.” 

Through dedication, compassion, and community support, Leashes of Valor continues to make a profound difference in the lives of veterans and service dogs alike, embodying their motto that one leash truly can save two lives.

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For those interested in supporting or learning more about Leashes of Valor, visit their website, www.leashesofvalor.org, and connect with them on social media at www.facebook.com/LeashesofValor to explore volunteer and donation opportunities.