We are excited to share the news that Freedom Paws has officially purchased the A-Plus Auto Body property! This incredible gift of growth marks the beginning of our expansion through the Grounds for Freedom Campaign.

Our offices and current training facility will remain exactly where they are.
This new property is an addition, not a move — giving us room to expand our programs and better serve our community.

🐕‍🦺 What’s Coming in the Future?
The new property will allow us to develop expanded training areas, outdoor spaces, and future facilities, including dog sitting and day services — strengthening the support we can offer to our Veterans, First Responders, and families.

🙏 A Heartfelt Thank You
We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to the owners of this property. Their partnership and support have made this next chapter possible, and we are truly grateful.

As we look toward the future, this land will help us serve even more heroes at no cost and build a stronger foundation for long-term growth.

💝 We invite you to be part of this exciting new chapter.
Your generosity helps us bring the Grounds for Freedom vision to life.

👉 Donate today and help us build a place where hope, healing, and freedom can grow.

From all of us at Freedom Paws, thank you for believing in our mission and helping us change lives one dog, one hero at a time. 🐕🇺🇸

Freedom Paws Service Dogs Foundation was founded by Corey James in September 2018. Corey is a 100% disabled veteran rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Corey was active duty Air Force from August 1998 until October 2007. Corey joined the Illinois Air National Guard prior to leaving active duty. He then joined the 182nd Air Wing based out of Peoria Illinois. Corey was a Security Forces/Military Police member his entire career. After multiple deployments, and years after he left the military, Corey and his family noticed a huge change in his demeanor. Corey was always on edge, hyper-vigilant, could not be in large crowds, varying his routes when traveling in a vehicle. These are just a few of the things he deals with on a day to day basis.

Corey was training with another program to get a service dog for himself when they unfortunately had to close due personal events. Corey trained with this foundation for over a year and a half. Once the foundation he was training with closed the doors and Corey never received a service dog, he once again went into a downward spiral.

Corey realized how therapeutic it was for him to be around canines and train with them. One evening when Corey and his former wife sat down for dinner, it was suggested they start their own non profit to help veterans with PTSD in need just like Corey.

Corey and his former wife spent months planning and strategizing how they envisioned a good PTSD (Psychiatric Service Dog) company would operate. The very first thing they wanted to do is form a 501(c)3 nonprofit. They both knew the process takes a very long time to get approved. They wanted to operate as a nonprofit because the average fully trained PTSD service dog cost approximately $25,000. They wanted to be able to train the dogs and the veterans without charging a fee. Instead, they would ask the recipient to make a donation. The donation could be monetary or they could purchase something for the foundation such as dog food, service dog vests, or leashes.