File Photo: Amanda M. Usher | The Valdosta Daily TimesBradley, a golden retriever service dog, and his owner, Ryan Bodge, have been together since January 2019. Bodge received Bradley through Valor Service Dogs.

VALDOSTA – After announcing its expansion to Lowndes County in March 2020, Valor Service Dogs says it’s still growing.

Valor is a Tampa, Fla.-based company started by Carol Lansford that seeks to help wounded veterans and first-responders by placing service dogs with them.

Ryan Bodge, an Air Force veteran who spent more than 30 years in the military, is the program manager and graduate teams support specialist for Valor’s South Georgia region.

After retirement, he utilized Valor himself by acquiring Bradley, a golden retriever born in May 2016.

He helped implement the program in Lowndes with two puppies that were heading into training; since, Valor acquired two more dogs with its first service dog recruit going to advanced training in Tampa four months ahead of schedule, Bodge said.

Valor includes more training sites consisting of “several” public buildings in Valdosta, the Governors Mall in Tallahassee, Fla., and the Tallahassee International Airport.

“We now do joint training with VSD graduates and recruits as they learn more complex commands,” Bodge said.

There are currently two Valor dogs in Georgia, a 13-month-old Labrador retriever named Millie and an 11-month-old Labrador named Peep, and 15 dogs training in Tampa.

Georgia had four originally, but two had to be sent to Tampa due to their coaches opting out of the program.

Bodge said Millie has a “strong desire to please and a relentless work ethic” while Peep is “super smart and full of energy.”

The two dogs are on schedule for attending advanced training in Tampa this year. Then, they will go to a wounded veteran or first-responder.

Valor can service six dogs at once, but Bodge said additional puppy coaches are necessary.

“More importantly, we have approved applicants waiting for their lives to be changed,” he said. 

Valor is seeking volunteer puppy coaches, as well as volunteer puppy sitters.

Sitters are to care for the dog while the coach is unavailable, such as instances the coach is out of town.

Puppy coaches are to be passionate about supporting veterans and first-responders, have a love for dogs, have a work and home life conducive to having a dog all of the time and have the ability to attend at least one hour of training classes in Valdosta once a week, according to organizers.

Coaches must also commit to the program for a year and a half to two years, be willing to do 10-15 minute at-home command practice daily, be able to exercise the dog regularly and be able to visit Valor’s veterinarian in Valdosta, organizers stated.

Puppy sitters should have weekday and weekend availability and be near Valdosta, according to organizers.

More information: ryan@valorservicedogs.org; valorservicedogs.org; and (907) 347-7928.