Program Care Officer Application
Important: This is NOT a foster position. A Program Care Officer is an approved Walking With Honor volunteer officer assigned to a dog as part of WWH’s training operations.
Before a dog begins training, they spend some time in one of our Program Care Officer (PCO) Decompression Homes. Think of it as giving a dog a chance to take a deep breath. Many of the dogs that come into our program have spent time in shelters or have had a rough start. Before we ask them to learn and work, we want them to have the opportunity to simply be a dog—to sleep, play, settle into a routine, and learn that they're safe.
What a Program Care Officer is: An official Walking With Honor volunteer officer who is assigned to a specific dog coming into the program. Your biggest job is simply to provide a calm, loving home during that transition. It's amazing how much a month or two of stability can change a dog's confidence and help prepare them for the important work ahead.
Most dogs stay in a decompression home for 4–8 weeks, although some may need a little longer depending on their individual needs. We'll be here to support you every step of the way, and Walking With Honor provides the supplies, approved veterinary care, and guidance throughout the process.
One thing we like to mention is that we don't have breed restrictions. We choose our dogs based on their temperament and potential—not their breed. That means you could welcome a Rottweiler, Pit Bull, Doberman, German Shepherd, mixed breed, or any number of other wonderful dogs into your home. Every dog is carefully evaluated before entering our program.
The work you do during those first few weeks makes a bigger difference than you might realize. By giving a rescue dog a safe place to decompress, you're helping lay the foundation for them to become a future service dog for a veteran who needs them.
What a Program Care Officer is NOT: A “foster” operating independently. The dog is housed with the PCO because the PCO is serving in an official WWH program role with oversight, documentation requirements, and accountability through Walking With Honor.
PCO Core Requirement: The assigned dog will be housed (live) in the Program Care Officer’s home during the decompression phase.