


About Us
Defence Community Dogs (DCD) exists to help Veterans improve their lives.
We provide dogs trained to Assistance Dog level to Australian Defence Force (ADF) Veterans. Trained in specific tasks to support medical conditions, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), these Dogs are helping Veterans rebuild their lives.
Every Dog is rescued from a pound or shelter and then trained by inmates at a Correctional Centre under the guidance of professional dog trainers.
A unique Win-Win-Win program.
The Defence Community Dogs program has been running since 2014. It is rescuing dogs, rehabilitating inmates and helping repair the lives of Veterans. Watch our ‘Transforming Lives’ video to find out more about our story.
The Dogs are provided free of charge to our Veterans.
Support Us
It costs over $10,000 to train each Dog to Assistance Dog level.
Every donation will help us to rescue, feed and train more Dogs.
The program relies solely on donations, sponsorships, fundraising activities and volunteers to provide the Dogs to Veterans. 100% of funds required are raised through the registered charity, The Defence Bank Foundation.
Our Dogs are trained to the highest standard, but we keep our cost low thanks to help of inmates in prisons.
Defence Community Dogs does not receive any government funding.
*Photo courtesy of PuppyTales
Meet the Dogs