Veteran’s Benefits

Free Pet Adoptions

All adoption fees are always waived for U.S. military Veterans and servicemembers. Adoptions are open every day, from 12 – 6 pm.

Assistance & Support Animals

U.S. military Veterans and servicemembers may receive services from the Shelter to Service program at no cost, including psychiatric service dog matching. U.S. military Shelter to Service participants are provided with a supply of preventative medications and additional supplies from Pet Food Express upon adoption.

Additionally, with a letter of recommendation from a licensed mental health care provider, service members can be personally matched with (and adopt) emotional support animals at no cost.

Free Veterinary Wellness Clinics

Joybound’s veterinary wellness clinics for Veterans’ pets provide essential services including vaccinations, deworming, heartworm medication, and FeLV/FIV testing for Veterans’ pets — all at no cost. Services are offered solely for dogs and cats, with a limit of two pets per household per clinic date and a maximum of six pets per Veteran total.  

These free clinic services are offered by appointment only. For information or to schedule an appointment, please call (925) 296-3125 (select option 7) and leave a message. Clinic staff will call you back for scheduling. The dedicated Veterans’ clinic entrance can be found at Joybound’s Walnut Creek headquarters, just past the main adoption entrance, around the corner from the spay/neuter clinic entrance. Services are by appointment only on Wednesdays.

Please note: in order to continue serving our current patients while accommodating new requests, we are scheduling a limited number of new clients each week. Thank you for your understanding and support!

Discounted Dog Grooming Services

U.S. military Veterans and servicemembers can receive 20% off all dog grooming services at Joybound’s Engelstad Grooming Academy.

Discounted Training Classes

U.S. military Veterans and servicemembers can receive 20% off all of Joybound’s pet training classes and workshops.

Discounted Purchases

U.S. military Veterans and servicemembers can receive 20% off purchases at the Lou Russa’s Boutique in Walnut Creek and at Joybound’s Thrift Store in Concord.

Vocational Training

U.S. military Veterans and servicemembers are eligible to join Joybound’s Engelstad Grooming Academy, and earn a “Bather Brusher” certificate after completing the 4-week dog grooming program.

They can also start the path towards a career as a professional dog trainer by applying to become a Shelter to Service volunteer foster trainer, helping train future psychiatric service or facility dogs.

Please note: volunteer foster trainers cannot apply for Shelter to Service program services and must be able to participate in weekly training classes.)