VetPets empowers veterans, first responders through support animals
Editor鈥檚 note: This article is a part of Helping the Helpers, our annual series to raise awareness for nonprofits throughout the area.
Omar Brooks can relate to the struggles veterans encounter when they return home.
Brooks was a combat veteran did one tour in Iraq. When he came home, he felt like a fish out of water.
鈥淚 found through my own experiences how veterans could mentally go into a place where they needed another sense of purpose. If VetPets kept me alive in my darkest days, it must be a pathway to help other veterans too,鈥� said Brooks.
He and his wife founded VetPets, a nonprofit serving Southwestern Pennsylvania, to train and place rescued dogs with veterans with the goal of reducing the rate of veteran suicide.
According to a National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, in 2022, the U.S. was losing more than 17 veterans to suicide every day. Many suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues, homelessness and addiction, the report indicated.
鈥淲e found that training rescue dogs and placing them with a veteran and families in need helped. The dogs wouldn鈥檛 get returned to the animal rescue, and the veteran was bonding 鈥� he or she was not in isolation,鈥� said Brooks. 鈥淪ince then, we鈥檝e grown to work with 鈥� emotional support dogs, therapy and service dogs.鈥�
The goal of Washington County-based VetPets is to pair at least three service dogs with a veteran each year, and they often surpass that.
They have 12 certified therapy dogs that go out to the public, visiting schools and fire or police departments when there is a stressful event.
The difference between VetPets and other organizations, according to Brooks, is the time they spend with veterans throughout the healing process.
鈥淎t VetPets, we train a dog for six to seven months. Our veterans train with several pups and they get the dog to around 70% trained. When we find a match, that veteran comes with us to train the dog the other 20%. No dog is 100%,鈥� he said.
During the training process, veterans meet with a counselor and attend wellness workshops.
Non-veterans in the area can also pay to have their dog trained in six-week classes. It鈥檚 a win-win, said Brooks. The cost supports the VetPets program, and dog owners have a well-trained pup.
鈥淭he greatest thing about VetPets and similar services is these wellness dogs reduce the rate of suicide by reducing isolation,鈥� Brooks said.
It also encourages giving back.
鈥淲e鈥檙e bringing veterans and first responders to a social, non-judgemental zone where they can forget about the distress. In six months or so, people feel better just by volunteering,鈥� he said.
The annual cash bash, held in the fall of 2025, raised more than $40,000. The proceeds not only sustain expenses into 2026 but three veterans received support checks. One check went to a veteran鈥檚 family who were affected by flooding this year, and two checks went to families of veterans who lost their loved one to suicide.
To donate, volunteer or apply for a service dog, visit https://pavetpets.org/ or call 724-999-VETS.