Kathy Hodgson 
Canine Companion

Kathy Hodgson

I was born in St Louis and began my nursing career in Colorado at Denver Children’s Hospital. I like to tease that I “invented” Pet Therapy because I saw right away how much the children and families and even the staff benefited when I brought my dog, Sunny, in to visit. The nursing supervisors would kind of wink when Sunny and I went from room to room because dogs were not allowed in the hospital.

I received my Masters Degree in Psychiatric Nursing and have continued to use my dogs to help patients. I received my certification as a Service Dog Trainer at the Assistance Dog Institute in California. When I returned to St Louis, I continued to work with service dog and rescue organizations.

When I learned about Dogs For Our Brave, it was love at first sight. I jumped at the chance to foster Keene, a three-month old puppy, donated by the Gladstein family, the founders of DFOB. The more I volunteered with DFOB, I knew I wanted to be more involved. I am now enjoying working with an incredible staff helping to train these great dogs to serve our veterans. It is my honor to be a part of such an amazing organization!