GIVING HEROS A FIGHTING CHANCE: JENNIFER SHROUT

By Kathryn Wells

Jennifer Shrout has turned her personal tragedies into a powerhouse for healing with her organization, Veterans First Responder Service Dogs. A retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy, Jennifer’s story is anything but easy: a career-ending spinal injury, a rare illness that left her temporarily paralyzed, and the devastating loss of her husband. Despite it all, Jennifer is a fighter.

“When I recovered, I knew I had to find a purpose,” Jennifer shares. “I wanted to give back—for Jeff, my husband—because he was my rock during my hardest moments. I decided to work with veterans, first responders, and service dogs.”

A Passion Project

When she wasn’t sure what her next chapter would look like, she leaned into her love for dogs and her desire to give back. What started as a passion project to train service dogs has grown into a life-changing organization for veterans, police officers, and firefighters living with PTSD, brain injuries, or physical disabilities.

Jennifer runs the program with a simple but effective model. She trains private clients’ dogs for a fee, and every dollar goes into offering free service dog training for veterans and first responders. Jennifer herself takes no salary, relying on her sheriff’s pension, and runs her program with a team of dedicated volunteers. “I don’t take a profit. Every cent goes toward the veterans,” she says.

Her program is different from others because the handlers bring their own dogs. “I’ve found pairing a handler with a dog doesn’t always work if there’s no connection,” Jennifer explains. “But when handlers bring their own dogs, we see incredible bonds form. The dogs learn their handlers’ ‘normal’ and ‘not normal’ and naturally start to respond to their needs.”

Dogs and their handlers go through rigorous training—twice a week, for about two years—until the dog can perform at least three specific tasks to support their handler’s needs. These tasks might include providing stability for someone with a back injury, retrieving items, or recognizing and responding to PTSD episodes.

One standout success story is a young Marine struggling with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury. Simple daily tasks felt impossible, and he avoided public spaces entirely. But through training, his dog became his rock, even learning to stand guard while leaning against him for comfort. “The transformation was incredible,” Jennifer says. “At first, he was nervous, skittish. But now, he has confidence to face the world again. His dog is his battle buddy.”

Giving Back

Jennifer’s biggest challenge is funding. As a for-profit organization, she doesn’t qualify for the tax-deductible donations that nonprofits rely on, but that hasn’t stopped her. “It’s tough because people want the tax write-off, but we rely on generosity,” she says. From equipment to care packages for homeless veterans, every bit of support counts.

“I’ll never turn away a veteran or first responder,” she adds. “We have guys who struggle, and they can stay in class as long as it takes. These guys are all heroes, and it’s my commitment to give back.”

With over 100 handlers and dogs trained in just five years, Veterans First Responder Service Dogs isn’t just about helping people—it’s about transformation. Jennifer sees it every day: veterans who once felt broken are now flying with their dogs or strolling confidently into public spaces they never thought they’d enter again.

“This work has helped me heal, too,” Jennifer says. “Seeing these guys transform is incredible. It’s why I do this.”

To learn more or lend your support, visit vfrservicedogs.com.