Lani Rethaber, executive director of Patriot K9s of Wisconsin, stands next to his German Shepherd Aisa as UW-River Falls student Michaela Hasapopoulos, left, sings the national anthem at the beginning of a Veterans Day ceremony at the university Wednesday.
 

Paws for a cause: Veterans Day speaker highlights the positive impact of service dogs

Patriot K9s of Wisconsin has assisted more than 100 veterans and continues to grow
 

Nov. 6, 2024 – After stints in the Marine Corps and the Wisconsin Army National Guard, Lani Rethaber found himself feeling a mix of anger and depression, emotions that often prevented him from socializing.

Then Rethaber found the emotional support he needed in the form of man’s best friend. 

Rethaber trained dogs as a hobby. As he trained a dog named Max, Rethaber noticed his anxiety drop and his happiness increase. 

“When I was with Max, I started finding out I could do things with him that I wasn’t able to do before,” Rethaber said. “Before, when people invited me places, I would say ‘Nope, not going to go. Too many people. I just don’t want to be around it.’ But having Max there, suddenly I was able to go places and be around people. Just having the dog with me made such a big difference.” 

Rethaber relayed his story of the positive difference dogs can make during a Veterans Day ceremony at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls on Wednesday. Since 2021 he has been executive director of Patriot K9s of Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization based in Wausau that trains psychiatric service dogs and pairs them with veterans who are impacted by military-related post-traumatic stress, have suffered a traumatic brain injury or have experienced military sexual trauma. Veterans don’t pay for their service dog provided by the program.

Patriot K9s of Wisconsin was established in 2017 to assist veterans by increasing services such as mental health screenings to improve veterans’ health and reduce suicides. Since it was founded, the organization has graduated 103 teams of service dogs paired with veterans. 

As part of the K9s of Wisconsin program, veterans receive instruction aligned with dogs’ training in which veterans and dogs go out in public together. That effort helps to not only train dogs, but enables veterans to acclimate to being in public places they might otherwise avoid. 

“We are helping them get used to being out in the world again,” Rethaber told attendees at the event. “Veterans’ mental health is much better when they’re a part of their community.”

Rethaber got linked to Patriot K9s of Wisconsin when he organized a fundraiser for the organization in 2018. He was attracted to its mission and decided to volunteer, then became an employee and now heads the organization. Today, the organization employs eight staff and has between 50 and 60 volunteers at any given time. 

Rethaber recounted veteran friends he has lost to suicide, losses he said drive him to link more trained service dogs with veterans in need to prevent additional suicides.   

Joe Kmiech, UWRF chief information officer, is a veteran who oversaw Wednesday’s ceremony. He said the commitment of Rethaber and Patriot K9s of Wisconsin is a tangible way to help veterans who have served their country. 

“We need to remember our veterans and their service, not just today, but every day,” Kmiech said. 

Following the ceremony, Rethaber stood next to Aisa, his 3-year-old German Shepherd. He recounted personal stories of veterans and the difference service dogs and Patriot K9s of Wisconsin have made in their lives. Veterans’ families share similar tales of the program’s positive impact.  

“When vets come in our door, they’re not smiling, they’re not happy,” Rethaber said. "Then, after they are paired with a dog, they are smiling. They describe how their dogs make their lives so much better. It’s super powerful stuff that reminds me why I am doing this.”