VETERAN'S PUPPY FOR LIFE ORGANIZATION (dba Hero's Puppy for Life / EmpowerPups)
Veteran's Puppy for Life is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 81-2903628, IRS ruling year 2016) that purchases and places purpose-selected puppies with U.S. veterans and emergency first responders living with PTSD and other disabling conditions, then guides the recipient and puppy through a trauma-informed, relationship-based training program at no cost.
About VETERAN'S PUPPY FOR LIFE ORGANIZATION (dba Hero's Puppy for Life / EmpowerPups)
Founded by Frank Griggs, the organization uses a Relationship Bond Training methodology to train service-dog candidates by pairing each puppy with its future handler and providing nine months of guided, no-harm/no-fear training plus veterinary care and ongoing support.
Operating under the public-facing names Hero's Puppy for Life and EmpowerPups, the organization runs in-person training in the Denver/Westminster and Colorado Springs areas and offers virtual puppy-training courses whose proceeds support placements and program operations.
In recent years (2023–2025) the group expanded programming (including seizure-alert training and preparatory service-dog courses), increased virtual offerings and fundraising activity, and reported serving well over 100 veterans and first responders through placements and training.
Notable achievements
100+ hero placements and graduations
Since inception the organization has placed and trained over one hundred puppy-to-service-dog teams, reporting more than 100 heroes served through placements and training.
Proprietary Relationship Bond Training
Developed and implemented the Frank Griggs Relationship Bond Training approach and an internal Excellence in Canine Behavior Certification to evaluate no-harm/no-fear progress and readiness for service work.
Program expansion and rebrand
Expanded scope from a veterans-only pilot to include emergency first responders and broader disability preparatory programs, operating publicly as Hero's Puppy for Life / EmpowerPups and adding additional Colorado training sites.
At a glance
- Total assets
- $10K
- Annual revenue
- $57K
- Tax status
- 501(c)(3)Public charity
- EIN
- 81-2903628
- Location
- Denver, CO
- Website
- www.heropuppyforlife.org
- On Mahalo since
- November 2025
Financial figures from the IRS Business Master File, the IRS’s registry of tax-exempt organizations.
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