Brett Simon was a veteran K9 police officer who went on to work as a contractor for the Department of the Army as a bomb dog handler. However, after serving two tours in Iraq, he returned home suffering from PTSD.

Led by his Mom, Shari Duval, who had worked for veteran's charities near their home in Jacksonville Florida, Brett's family undertook two years of research to find a solution to help Brett and others with this condition.

Their research focused on canine assistance for PTSD. Ultimately, they started a non-profit organization. K9s For Warriors, dedicated to providing service dogs to warriors suffering from post-traumatic stress and/or traumatic brain injury as a result of their military service (post 9/11).