May 2026 Program Update: Milestones, New Beginnings, and Honor's Legacy Bash Preparations

As we wrap up another incredible month, we are excited to share some major milestones and updates from Walking With Honor.

A Historic Moment for Walking With Honor

May marked a moment we have been working toward since the beginning of our mission—we officially paired our first veteran with a service dog in training.

On May 30th, Faith and Cassie brought Haven to his veteran, Savannah, for the next phase of his journey. While Haven's training is not yet complete, this transition represents a significant milestone in the program.

Now living with Savannah full-time, Haven will spend the next several weeks in a new decompression phase. This period is essential for building trust, strengthening their bond, and helping both Haven and Savannah learn each other's routines. Haven is adjusting to an entirely new environment while learning how to become an active part of Savannah's daily life.

As their partnership grows, Haven will begin focusing on the specialized tasks and skills that will help Savannah live a more independent and sustainable life. In the coming months, he will continue working toward important training milestones, including earning his Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification.

Watching this partnership begin is exactly why Walking With Honor exists. We are incredibly proud of both Haven and Savannah and cannot wait to share their continued progress.

Rowan Begins His Formal Training Journey

While Haven is entering a new phase, Rowan has completed an important chapter of his own.

After successfully completing his decompression period, Rowan has officially moved in with Faith to begin formal service dog training.

Although Rowan already knows many basic commands, this next phase introduces working commands, public access foundations, and the skills necessary to determine whether he has the temperament and ability to become a service dog.

What has amazed us most is that Rowan never stopped learning during decompression. Every day, he continued absorbing new routines, building confidence, and making connections faster than we could have imagined. His eagerness to learn and willingness to work have already made a strong impression on our team.

One of the most rewarding parts of our mission is watching rescue dogs begin to believe in themselves again. Rowan has already come so far, and we are excited to continue helping him grow into the incredible dog we know he can become.

Walking With Honor in the Community

May was also an exciting month for sharing our mission with the broader community.

On May 1st, Walking With Honor was featured on NH Chronicle's Working Dog segment, giving viewers an inside look at our mission of rescuing shelter dogs and training them as service dogs for veterans. It was an incredible opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges veterans face and the life-changing impact service dogs can provide.

Faith and Cassie were also honored to be featured in the Annie's Angels Memorial Fund video showcased during their Heavenly Ball. The event allowed us to connect with some truly amazing people who share a passion for supporting veterans, animals, and causes that make a difference in our communities.

To close out the month, Nia and Faith had the privilege of leading the Henniker Memorial Day Parade. While Faith appreciated the honor, it quickly became clear that Nia was the star of the show. Throughout the parade, supporters lined the route cheering her on, and she even seemed to have her own fan club waiting to see her. Moments like these remind us how powerful the bond between people and dogs can be and how much support exists for our mission.

Honor's Legacy Bash Planning Is Underway

Behind the scenes, we have also been hard at work planning our biggest event of the year: Honor's Legacy Bash on July 18th at Henniker Brewing Company.

The support from our community has already been incredible.

So far, we have:

• Secured numerous silent auction donations

• Booked live music for the event

• Partnered with two hairstylists who will be providing free haircuts for veterans

• Connected with outstanding veteran resource organizations

• Secured two amazing food trucks

• Added several pet-related vendors and community partners

Every week brings new additions, and we are excited to continue announcing sponsors, vendors, partners, and special activities as the event gets closer.

Honor's Legacy Bash is more than a fundraiser. It is a celebration of veterans, rescue dogs, community, and the mission we are building together.

How You Can Help

As our programs continue to grow, so does our need for community support.

Become a Volunteer

Whether you have a few hours each month or want to become more involved, volunteers are the backbone of Walking With Honor. From events and fundraising to helping spread awareness, there are countless ways to make a difference.

Donate a Silent Auction Item

We are actively seeking donations for our Honor's Legacy Bash silent auction. Gift baskets, gift cards, experiences, services, handcrafted items, and business donations all help us raise critical funds to support our veterans and service dogs.

Become a Vendor or Sponsor

We still have opportunities available for vendors and sponsors at Honor's Legacy Bash. If you own a business, know someone who does, or work for an organization that would like to support veterans and rescue dogs, we would love to connect.

Every sponsor, vendor, volunteer, and donor helps us continue changing lives—one veteran and one rescue dog at a time.

Thank you for being part of the Walking With Honor family and for believing in our mission.

Together, we are ensuring that no hero walks alone.