(Des Moines, IA) -- The dog lending its name to the Puppy Jake Foundation has died.
After failing out of a service dog training program 12 years ago due to a health condition, Jake sparked the idea of the Puppy Jake Foundation.
The organization pairs trained service dogs with disabled veterans to help them cope with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and more. Specifically training Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and German Shepherds, the puppies undergo 18-24 months of training and evaluations before a veteran applies for the service.
The veteran and service dog attend a 10-14 day camp to build a bond between the two. If the bond is healthy and a proper fit for both parties, the service dog is placed with the veteran. After inspiring the birth of the organization, Jake has directly led to at least 27 placements.
A portion of the Puppy Jake Foundation's post announcing Jake's death reads as the following:
"We at the Puppy Jake Foundation are broken with grief, but we are more committed than ever to making sure Jake's legacy continues and grows even more. No other dog will ever be able to fill the collar and leash that Jake left, but we will always make sure that there's a little bit of Jake in every single dog that wears the Puppy Jake Foundation service vest."
Jake died on April 29th, 2022.