Canines With a Cause (CWAC) began in 2010 as a program of Friends of Animals, Utah. Understanding the connection between companion animals and trauma, it made sense to find homes for our rescued buddies with those who would benefit from their companionship.

Based upon demand for trained service dogs for military veterans, CWAC officially became a non-profit organization in May of 2011. Partnering with the local VA Hospital in Salt Lake City, CWAC rescued dogs from local shelters, trained them in a small facility in Rose Park and eventually expanded training to the Utah Women’s State Prison in 2015.

The main office and training room for the Utah program is located in Holladay with another location in Odgen. Our Utah trainers Chloe and Brie are dedicated to our veteran/dog teams and provide support from the first inquiry to graduation. 

A mentor program is also provided to help new program veterans and engage those who’ve completed training and would like to give back.

Dogs in the Utah program are sourced from local shelters and placed in a board and train facility for assessment and early training.