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<\/a><\/a>\nThrough a partnership with K9s For Warriors, Smoky\u2014donated to USAA by the nation\u2019s leading nonprofit dedicated to providing trained service dogs to veterans in need\u2014will help advance USAA\u2019s commitment to employee well-being and strengthen support of the military community. The collaboration reflects the proven benefits therapy dogs bring in fostering connection, reducing stress and promoting overall wellness, and underscores USAA\u2019s selection of K9s For Warriors for its direct alignment with the mission of the association and its demonstrated impact supporting veterans and their families.<\/p>
\nDogs have served alongside service members for generations, providing support, stability and trust. Smoky continues that tradition at USAA as a certified therapy dog, bringing those same benefits to employees and the communities USAA serves.<\/p>
\nTo mark the launch, USAA is presenting a $60,000 grant to K9s For Warriors, the nation\u2019s largest provider of service dogs for veterans. This funding will support the training and placement of service dogs with veterans, helping strengthen quality of life, independence and connection. K9s For Warriors often summarizes this impact simply: \u201cWe save lives on both ends of the leash.\u201d<\/p>
\n\u201cSmoky represents how we care for our people and our members\u2014not just in what we do, but in how we make them feel,\u201d said Juan C. Andrade, President and CEO of USAA. \u201cAcross our employee community, we have seen firsthand how connection and well-being directly impact our ability to serve\u2014and dogs have a unique ability to unlock both in ways nothing else can. Smoky brings that to life in a powerful way\u2014helping us create moments that matter, strengthen bonds and live out our commitment to take care of our own.\u201d<\/p>
\nAs part of Honor Through Action, USAA\u2019s commitment to influencing systemic change in the areas of careers, financial security and well-being, and their Taking Care of Our Own platform, Smoky will support employee experiences, military community engagement efforts and moments of need\u2014from everyday connection to times of crisis, including supporting members following catastrophic events. Her presence reinforces USAA\u2019s focus on showing up with care, empathy and purpose.<\/p>
\nSmoky is named in honor of a WWII-era Army war dog, a small Yorkshire Terrier discovered in a New Guinea foxhole in 1944. Widely considered the military\u2019s first therapy dog, Smoky visited hospitalized service members\u2014bringing comfort, distraction and connection during extremely challenging conditions. Today, that legacy continues in new ways, helping break down barriers, foster trust and build community.<\/p>
\nThis mission is personal for Chris Espinoza, a veteran and former Military Working Dog handler who now works with Smoky.<\/p>
\n\u201cIn the military, a working dog is never just an animal\u2014they are a trusted partner who brings focus, confidence and stability,\u201d said Espinoza. \u201cThat bond doesn\u2019t end when the mission changes. Smoky carries that same spirit forward, helping people feel grounded, supported and connected wherever they are.\u201d<\/p>
\nSmoky is a 1.5-year-old black English Labrador Retriever selected after extensive training with K9s For Warriors. Her calm temperament and adaptability make her uniquely suited to support people in meaningful, human ways.<\/p>
\nThrough Smoky, USAA continues to invest in what matters most\u2014strengthening well-being, deepening connection and honoring a legacy of service. From WWII to today, Smoky\u2019s mission remains the same: helping people feel supported, connected and cared for.<\/p>
\nAbout USAA<\/b><\/p>
\nFounded in 1922 by a group of military officers, USAA is among the leading providers of insurance, banking and retirement solutions and serves more than 14.5 million members of the U.S. military, veterans who have honorably served and their families. Headquartered in San Antonio, USAA has offices in seven U.S. cities and four overseas locations and employs more than 36,000 people worldwide. Each year, USAA supports national and local nonprofits serving military families and communities. With Honor Through Action, USAA advances policy, advocacy and philanthropy to support financial security, build meaningful careers and promote overall well-being across the military community. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or X (@usaa), or visit usaa.com<\/a>.<\/p> \nAbout K9s For Warriors<\/b><\/p> \nDetermined to end Veteran suicide, K9s For Warriors is the leading nonprofit organization that provides trained Service Dogs to military Veterans nationwide suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and\/or military sexual trauma \u2014 at no financial cost to the Veteran. Backed by groundbreaking scientific research from the University of Arizona\u2019s OHAIRE Lab, the program demonstrates how Service Dogs can help mitigate symptoms of PTSD while simultaneously restoring confidence and independence. Founded in 2011 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, K9s For Warriors is committed to saving lives at both ends of the leash by primarily rescuing dogs and pairing them with Veterans in need. The organization is also dedicated to raising awareness about Veterans\u2019 mental health and driving policy-level reform. To date, K9s has paired nearly 1,300 Veterans with life-changing Service Dogs and rescued more than 2,500 dogs.<\/p>