LEADING HEROES TO HEALTH WITH THE HELP OF DOGS

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Laura Barker. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Laura Barker didn’t know how to run a nonprofit back in 2016. But that didn’t stop her from creating one. When Laura’s son returned from serving in the United States Marine Corps in Afghanistan, he had significant physical and mental issues to deal with. While he was in the military hospital, Laura was introduced to the therapy dogs that came in to see the veterans. Blown away by their positive impact, Laura knew she wanted to fuse her background of training dogs with her passion for helping veterans and first responders. Already an avid volunteer, Laura owned several successful businesses at the time. However, she says she realized when she sold her last business that she could keep making money or she could make a difference. She founded Hero Pups, an organization that provides support dogs to veterans and first responders in New England diagnosed with service-related psychological challenges. She never looked back.

In nearly ten years of running Hero Pups, Laura has been responsible for every aspect of the organization’s livelihood. She believes every dog is going to be as different as the person they’re helping, which is why it’s essential to ensure the organization pairs the right dog and human. That means extensive profiling and training, as well as less glamorous work, like making sure each puppy goes to the bathroom. She serves in a variety of important roles, ranging from the logistical manager and executive director to the general contractor, and covers any other tasks that need to be done. Laura is also responsible for organizing about 80 to 120 volunteers per month and contributes 50 hours a week herself.

It’s a massive endeavor, but she’s up to the challenge.

As Hero Pups gears up for its tenth anniversary next year, the organization is getting ready to celebrate with its 10th motorcycle ride. Every year, a group from the American Legion runs the event, which raises funds for the organization and serves as a great day to gather and celebrate all their accomplishments. But this year’s event will also be a tremendous moment of accomplishment for Laura and the Hero Pups team. She says every year the event gets bigger, since more faces come in and bring new friends and other motorcycle groups to rally and do good together. Set for June of 2026, Laura is already excited and says she cries out of joy every time.

Right now, 262 support dogs are working with a veteran or first responder thanks to Hero Pups. Another 200 pets have been rescued from shelters and placed as companions with veterans. But at the heart of the movement is Laura’s mission to volunteer and create change for veterans and first responders. Her passion for helping others is an inspiration to us all.

What inspires you to volunteer?

I know that I’m changing lives and in some cases, saving lives. Not only the dogs that we’re rescuing, but also the heroes that we’re helping.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

My son was injured in Afghanistan when he was in the Marine Corps, and when he got out and was going through surgery, somebody brought therapy dogs into the military hospital. I saw the impact that it had on the other wounded service members. I realized that I had a background in training working dogs, and I did a lot of rescue, so when my son got done with his surgeries, I started training service dogs for Marines. Then I placed a high-profile dog with a firefighter who was also a veteran, and I found out how big the need was.

Tell us about your volunteer role with Hero Pups.

I’ve always been a volunteer. I’ve worked with a lot of great charities, but I never knew I was going to start one. I do almost everything. I spend a lot of time doing intake of the puppies that are coming to us from shelters and rescues, as well as the intake of the veterans or first responders who will receive the dog. There’s so much that wraps around our day-to-day activities. Right now, I’m literally sitting outside because all the puppies are outside going potty. Pretty glamorous stuff for sure!

It’s whatever needs to be done. Making sure the veterinary care is done, making sure our veterans and first responders have clearance from their doctors or their mental health provider to receive a dog and all the other things that go along with that. We get the puppies in and profile them, making sure they have the right temperament and that they’re smart enough to complete service dog training. We get to know the dogs. Then we pair the dog with an individual.

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?

I never wanted this to be the biggest organization. I did want it to be the best for the people that we’re serving. I’ve been able to surround myself with people smarter than me. And while it’s great that I’m doing this interview, I have to give kudos to all the people who keep us moving forward. We have almost 1,800 volunteer hours every single month.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

Having the recipient come back, or having their family members come back and tell us how much the dog has changed their life for the better. They’re doing activities that they didn’t do before. Sometimes it’s literally saving a life, and they need a reason to wake up in the morning and a reason to keep putting in the fight, because most of our dogs are psychiatric service dogs. We’re dealing with mental health, and sometimes a dog can go further than a therapist can.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

Patience. I have to be patient. I want everything right now. That’s just how I am. I keep things moving, but not everybody moves at the same pace. I’ve learned that there’s still so much to learn. Sometimes people get stuck in a rut and they think that they’re experts in their field, and they may be, but there’s always more to learn. When you say you know all about something, I promise you don’t. You don’t know all about it. You may know a lot about it, but you don’t know all about it.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

Everybody can do something, even if you can’t write a check. It’s not always about a check. You can share your time, you can share your talent or you can share your money. Whichever one fits best for you. There is a reward that comes that you cannot buy. It is so impactful to see the outcome. If you’re volunteering at a soup kitchen, you may not see the person that you’re serving, but you made a difference in that person’s life for that day. Volunteering will always make you a better person.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

If you see something that needs changing, or you find people that need help, or maybe it’s animals or the environment, whatever your passion is, find a way to use that passion.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Laura? Find local volunteer opportunities.