Service Dogs for Veterans in Washington and the Pacific Northwest
PRESIDENT
Steve Cooper
My name is Steve Cooper, and I am the Service Peace Warriors Board President. I am a U.S. Army retired Veteran with 21 years of service. I am married with four children and stay active in the Veteran community. Once I left the military in 2015, I realized something was drastically wrong. I struggled with PTSD and consistently experienced night terrors. I was referred to Service Peace Warriors in 2018, where I met SPW Violet. I began training almost immediately with her. SPW Violet changed my life from the first day that she entered it. We have a bond that I never knew could exist. Without Service Peace Warriors, I am confident that I would not be here today. I owe my life to them. Because of that, I will forever be in debt to SPW (Service Peace Warriors). I now spend my off time doing everything I can to support Veterans in our community. I encourage any and all Veterans out there that are struggling with PTSD to reach out to SPW for help. You will not regret it. Together we can reduce the number of Veteran suicides by developing a community of support.
VICE-PRESIDENT
Tara Robertson
My name is Tara Robertson, and I am the Service Peace Warriors Vice President. l am a single mother of an 11 year old son who has puppy raised two pups and working on his 3rd for Service Peace Warriors to become future service dogs for fellow Veterans.
I myself am a Veteran of the United States Army for over 9 years and served a tour in Iraq. After returning home I was diagnosed with PTSD. My world was dark for years. I was lucky enough to be matched with my service dog, SPW Beretta, from the Service Peace Warriors organization, in 2020. This made a huge positive impact in my life. They with SPW Beretta brought light back to my darkness. I was even able to complete an educational goal I had and received a college degree with my service dog at my side. As well as take my son on many adventures that I otherwise could not have.
I am forever grateful for Service Peace Warriors as they saved my life; which is why I advocate wholeheartedly for Service Dogs for Veterans and why I want to continue in helping Service Peace Warriors with their continued mission to lower the number of Veteran suicides a day four paws at a time.
US Army Veteran, SPC
Tara Cherie Robertson
SECRETARY
Darcie Brightman
Hello, my name is Darcie Brightman. I have two children, and through the years, we have volunteered at the Benton Franklin Humane Society and fostered dogs for local animal rescues in the Tri-Cities. As a family, we have become puppy raisers for Service Peace Warriors and love being able to support this organization through service work and volunteering. I am an elementary teacher and would love to extend puppy raising to a service project through my school, but for now, I am honored to be a board member for Service Peace Warriors. I look forward to helping this nonprofit organization grow, helping to make community connections, and ultimately supporting our Veterans.
TREASURER
Matt Wilson
Hello all. My name is Matt Wilson. I’m married with three grown children. Two still live in the tri-cities area, and one is currently serving in the Air Force. My time in the military was split between the Army and the Air Force, so my 15-year career was interesting, to say the least. My journey with Service Peace Warriors began in early 2018. I was paired with SPW Smoke shortly before he went home with the most wonderful puppy raiser for a few months. Smoke and I became a permanent team in the spring of 2019, and he has had the most positive impact on my life, as well as the lives of those around me. Today Smoke goes to work with me at Hanford, where he acts as a pseudo mascot for my workgroup. Having Smoke has allowed me to remain active, as he is never short on energy. He opened my eyes to how much dogs can make a difference in veterans’ lives. After personally going through the transformative experience of training and living with Smoke, I knew I wanted to help Service Peace Warriors further their mission to reduce the number of veteran suicides. I am honored to serve on their board as the treasurer and look forward to witnessing the positive impact on future veteran/dog teams.
SERGEANT AT ARMS
Avis Rodriguez
My name is Avis C Rodriguez, the Service Peace Warriors Sargent At Arms. I am a retired United States Air Force Reserve Veteran, having served 25 years. After being diagnosed with complex PTSD, I was fortunate to be referred to the Service Peace Warriors non-profit organization to apply for a service dog to mitigate my needs. I was paired with SPW ASH in March of 2019 and completed my handler training eight weeks later. Since then, I have volunteered to assist at a fundraising event to allow the public and other veterans to ask questions and hopefully spread the word that ServicePeaceWarrior.org is here to help PTSD and MST veterans and lower the incidents of suicide within our veteran community. I am lucky to have been provided my service dog, Ash, free of charge, and I hope to help spread the word and get other Veteran/Service Dog Teams to graduate.
BOARD MEMBERS
JASON GRIFFIN
My name is Jason Griffin. I am a retired police Officer with the City of Pasco. I am married with four children. I live in the tri-city area. I retired after 18 years due to being diagnosed with PTSD from events from being a police officer.
I heard about Service Peace Warriors through a fellow retired Officer and went to check it out. What I found was unbelievable. I realized that my life was not over and that having a service dog would give me some freedom. I was paired with MDTA Rocket and soon started our training. Rocket has been a massive help in regaining parts of my life that seemed out of reach. Going out is still a struggle, but I can add more activities to my life with Rocket.
After being paired with Rocket and finishing all the training, I began volunteering with Service Peace Warriors. I help with walking dogs and anywhere else I can be of assistance.
I genuinely enjoy watching veterans and first responders when they first get to work their service dogs. You can see the spark return to their eyes, and it gives me an incredible feeling of being part of this organization.
I would like to say thank you to Service Peace Warrior and Mattox Dog Training.
Amelia Beadle
Hey Y’all, my name is Amelia Beadle. I am from Louisiana and currently live in Plaquemine, LA. Over the years, I have worked as a pipefitter, candle maker, and quilt shop owner, to name a few. My husband, Wade, and I have been married for 32 years. In 2010, he was employed by Bechtel at the Hanford Waste Treatment facility in WA. We lived in Kennewick for 10+ years before my husband retired, and we moved back to Louisiana. In the meantime, I opened and successfully operated a quilt shop in Kennewick. While at a Kennewick Car Show, I was introduced to Service Peace Warriors. I was immediately hooked. I do not believe that I could ever do what a veteran does and would never want to be put in that position. Lucky for me, I am a great puppy raiser and volunteer. My first puppy was Smoke, a blue heeler. He was a great dog and went to a very deserving veteran and now goes to work at Hanford daily. Then, we moved back to Louisiana. A few months later, we drove back to Eltopia, WA, a six-day drive, to pick up Roosevelt and Penny. I had spent time with Penny, the runt of the litter, almost from the day she was born. She was a beautiful little red and golden pup. Roosevelt, on the other hand, was very white and a bit larger than Penny, although they were only a couple of weeks apart in age. Together, the two were so wonderful to watch and raise. After about sixteen months, we drove them home. Roosevelt now belongs to a wonderful veteran who has come out of his shell. Did you know that 24 veterans a day commit suicide? That is over 8700 veterans per year. What better reason to become a puppy raiser?
Laura Cusack
Hello. My name is Laura Cusack. I was introduced to Service Peace Warriors in 2019 when one of my employees asked to bring his service dog to work. Over the next few years, I had the opportunity to watch Matt and Smoke work together, and I was impressed at their bond. During their breaks, I would visit with Matt as an excuse to bring Smoke treats and get my dog fix for the day. Through many conversations with Matt, I learned about the organization, the dogs, and the veterans. I retired in early 2021 and decided to become a puppy raiser, and it has been a joy and a learning experience for me. I joined the Board in 2023 because I believe in the organization, its mission, and the dedication of all involved.
RYLEE CLARK
Her name is Rylee, and she is an assistant trainer who has worked her way up through the ranks at the Mattox Dog Training Academy. Helping people and being around animals are some of her passions. She grew up with dogs and cats and also raised animals in FFA. Little did she know at the time that all these experiences were preparing her for her eventual job at Mattox Dog Training Academy. Since starting, she has not only increased her knowledge but also shown determination to learn and has demonstrated love and respect for the dogs she trains. Rylee now says that training dogs has become her life. Since starting she has not only increased her knowledge but shown determination to learn and shown the love and respect for the dogs she trains. Rylee now says training dogs has become her life.
Diona Strawn Schilling
Hi, my name is Diona Schilling; I am married with two grown children and one grandson; my daughter and I raise goats on the 5 acres where we live. My husband and I own Dependable Janitor, LLC in Kennewick, where I do the bookkeeping. I am a member/volunteer with the Benton Franklin Market Stock Committee. When Mary asked me to be on her board with Service Peace Warriors, I was excited to help. I had no idea how big and successful this organization would be and what an impact it would make. I thoroughly enjoy the dogs, people and meeting the Veterans, and seeing how these dogs have changed their lives.