South Dakota Service Dogs was founded in 2021 in Rapid City, SD by Tony and Eleanor Russell when they experienced the life-changing impact of Tony’s service dog, Rush.

Tony served in the United States Air Force from 2011 to 2020. Following multiple deployments and life-threatening injuries, Tony’s service-related trauma affected his daily life and relationships.

In 2020, he received Rush from the Rapid City Rush hockey team and Spire Sports as part of The Puppy Project. Rush has changed Tony’s life, allowing him to feel safe, to improve his mobility, to relieve his anxiety in stressful situations, and most importantly, Rush has allowed Tony to regain his relationship with his children and wife.

Though Tony and Eleanor experienced the positive effects of a well-trained service dog, they also learned that barriers exist for most veterans and first responders who want and need a service dog. The wait time can be three years; the cost can be as much as $20,000. For these individuals, at high risk of PTSD, often leading to isolation, sleep disturbances, memory loss, depression, or even suicide, these barriers can be life-threatening.

Finding these obstacles unacceptable, Tony and Eleanor are committed to finding ways to connect veterans and first responders with service dogs that are trained for each person’s specific needs.