At our regular Club meeting on February 26, 2026, we heard from Frank Griggs, founder and CEO of EmpowerPups by Hero’s Puppy for Life (“EmpowerPups”). Frank served in the Marine Corps for 8 years, including 2 tours of duty in Vietnam. He received a Purple Heart. Frank both experienced and observed in others, the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This provided Frank’s motivation for founding EmpowerPups in 2016.
EmpowerPups is a 501(c)(3) based in Westminster, Colorado. It honors and serves those who have served, primarily US Armed Forces Veterans, Emergency First Responders and their families. These people (“clients”) carry unseen burdens in addition to those burdens that are visible. Empower Pups provides them with a puppy as an investment. The client and the puppy form an unbreakable bond of love and trust. This helps the client live.
EmpowerPups selects puppies based on sponsorship of the puppy as well as the puppy’s apparent temperament and capacities. English Golden Retrievers make up by far the most frequently selected breed, due to the breed’s empathy, calm nature and intelligence. EmpowerPups does not select breeds perceived as “dangerous” such as pit bulls and rottweilers. While Frank does not see these breeds as inherently dangerous, the perceptions of others about the breeds might interfere with the purpose of pairing the puppy and client in the first place. English Golden Retrievers tend to cost between $2500 - $5000 to acquire. Clients tend to be referred to Frank.
After a puppy is sponsored and selected, both puppy and client are trained. Puppy training does not involve “commands” but rather, “suggestions”. Experience has shown that use of the word “yes” with puppies builds particularly strong connections with humans. Clients must also complete “Puppy Pre-School” before they will be provided with a dog.
The benefits to the client of pairing with a puppy become apparent immediately. Dogs often can be alert to issues in humans before the humans are aware of them. If a client is having night tremors, the puppy will bring the client back to reality. The benefits of the pairing often extend beyond the client to people around the client as well.
EmpowerPups’ funding comes entirely from donations. None of it comes from the VA. For more information about EmpowerPups, visit their website at empowerpups.charity.