Pittsburgh! The Community Mutt Strut returns this October at the Great Lawn on the North Shore!!

We are excited to announce that the Mutt Strut will return to the Great Lawn at Riverfront Park on the North Shore on October 5, 2024. Join Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, our sponsors, and a host of others as we celebrate our fabulous four-legged friends and raise funds to train Service Dogs for our veterans in need.

We know that approximately 22 veterans each day are taking their own lives, and this has only heightened in the past years. But once paired with a Guardian Angels Medical Service Dog, the rate of suicide in recipients to date is Zero.

So join us in creating awareness, and plan on joining us on October 5th for a great day in Pittsburgh, PA!

There will be an AKC Fit Dog pet-friendly walk, and dog costume contest, with categories and prizes, food, pet and veteran-related vendors, music, and fun for the entire family!

This annual FUNdraising event helps Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs train Service Dogs for our veterans, first responders, and civilians in need. Come have a great time in the park, and help us Unleash the Power to Heal.

Tickets & Sponsor

We are pleased to announce For the Love of Dogs and Chocolate is coming to Pittsburgh!

As the ground is being cleared and we are embarking on our new facility here in Southwestern Pennsylvania, the need for medical service dogs to change and save the lives of our nation’s veterans, first responders and others is more important than ever. We at Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs are committed to providing these highly skilled service dogs to those who so desperately need them at no cost.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Over the past two years, suicides and mental health issues have been at an all-time high. Disabilities, isolation and anxiety continue to take their toll on families, businesses and our communities. For our brave service men and women, first responders and others difficult times are nothing new. They have faced unimaginable realities, and are fighting for their lives in a different way. Veterans die by suicide at an alarming rate of up to 22 per day; however, a recent study highlighted in the Military Times suggests that number is closer to 44 a day. It is reasonable to assume that the suicide rates of first responders and civilians parallel these statistics. However, the hundreds of dogs that Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs has placed with recipients nationwide are making a huge impact. Statistics show that when a recipient is paired with a service dog from Guardian Angels, the suicide rate drops to zero.

Our recipients face many challenges, and the fact remains that a vast majority of those in need are unable to afford the $27,000 cost for one of these highly trained service dogs. In our communities, we know the need is greater than ever, with numerous individuals currently on the waiting list to be paired with a dog. I’m asking for your support. Your contribution will literally save lives and have a direct and positive impact on veterans, first responders and others, including their families, suffering from PTSD, TBI, seizures, diabetes, and/or mobility challenges.

TOGETHER, WE CAN UNLEASH THE POWER TO HEAL.

Our 2nd Annual Gala, For the Love of Dogs and Chocolate, will be held on May 17, 2025, at The Event Center, Rivers Casino. This evening will bring together the most intelligent and successful people in our community, featuring a delectable meal, live and silent auction, wine and distillery pull, and much more. This gala will provide you with a first-hand view of the amazingly positive effects of your support on our veterans’ lives by meeting them.

All proceeds from this event will benefit Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs – a national non-profit that rescues, raises, trains and donates medical service dogs to veterans, first responders, and others suffering from permanent visible and invisible disabilities. I invite you to join us on this incredible journey by selecting to be a featured sponsor. If you cannot participate as a sponsor, we ask you to please consider supporting in one of our many other ways. Your gift will help strengthen our community by providing these life-saving dogs to veterans and their families.

Tickets & Sponsor