Out of the ashes,
a Phoenix rises.
Phoenix Rising helps people with PTSD and other hidden disabilities obtain life-saving service dogs by raising funds, building partnerships, and sharing stories that inspire action.
Could a service dog change your life—or the life of someone you love? We’re here to help you explore what’s possible.
of people with a psychiatric disability report significant life-improvement.
Investment needed for each world-class service dog
Typical waitlist for a PTSD-trained service dog
Veterans die by suicide daily in the US.
Rising From the Ashes
Phoenix Rising was born from the life-saving bond between a human and her K9 partner.
Lee Atherton’s faithful service dog, Shadow, helped her through some of life’s darkest seasons. Their partnership showed Lee that a service dog could do far more than provide assistance—it could restore hope, independence, and even save a life.
Driven by a larger purpose, Lee began imagining how her experience could help others. A simple GoFundMe campaign grew into a vision for sharing true stories of service dog teams—stories that could inspire hope, raise awareness, build partnerships, and help fund life-saving service dogs for those who need them.
That vision became Phoenix Rising: Service Dogs Saving Lives, along with plans for an anthology of true stories and a North American fundraising book tour—all grounded in the belief that no one who needs a service dog should be kept from one simply because of the cost.
When Shadow faced a terminal illness and later died, the mission he helped inspire took on even deeper meaning. Lee honored his legacy by transforming Phoenix Rising into a foundation dedicated to turning stories into action, compassion into connection, and hope into life-changing partnerships.
Today, Phoenix Rising is working toward a future where everyone who needs a life-saving service dog has access to one, regardless of their ability to pay.
Multiple ways we're making a difference
Fundraising
Helping to raise the funds needed to train and place service dogs with people living with PTSD and other mental health disabilities.
Sharing Stories
Publishing books, blogs, and personal stories that inspire hope, reduce stigma, and demonstrate the life-changing bond between service dogs and their partners.
Changing Lives
Joining forces with organizations, businesses, and community leaders to increase awareness, expand resources, and change lives.
Educating
Building awareness, challenging misconceptions, and helping people understand the life-changing role service dogs play in the lives of people with disabilities.
Advocating
Speaking up for greater access, understanding, and support so people with disabilities and their service dogs can live, work, and participate fully in their communities.
See the life-changing bond between service dogs and their partners
Shadow helps Lee remain calm at a difficult time.
A young man finally smiles when he first meets his service dog, Nelle.
Mochi keeps his autistic partner safe.
When a service dog doesn't graduate — but still changes a life.
What the blind hiker taught me about seeing possibility.
Behind prison walls, hope is being trained on four paws.
Latest news from our mission to save lives
Clarifying the legal and functional differences between service dogs, emotional support animals, and pets.
From nightmare interruption to panic attack response — how psychiatric service dogs are trained and matched.
What real teams wish you knew — and what to look for to distinguish authentic service dogs.
Be Part of the Phoenix Rising Family
Every volunteer hour, every donation, every introduction, and every share brings us closer to getting life-saving service dogs into the hands and hearts of people who need them most. Together, we can help hope find its way home.
