Episode #339: K9Heroes4Heroes with Joe Gionti

August 20, 2024
Cheryl Ilov

Podcast: Download (Duration: 55:43 — 51.0MB)

Joe Gionti is an engineer, martial artist, passionate patriot, dog lover, and the Founder and CEO of K9Heroes4Heroes, a 501C3 non-profit whose mission is to provide Service Dogs to veterans and first responders at no cost to the recipients.

Not only does K9Heroes4Heroes provide Service Dogs, but they also provide the necessary training, equipment, gear, initial veterinary care, handler training, and follow up maintenance training. Their tagline is “Heeling is Healing.”

Joe grew up with a strong sense of patriotism which its roots beginning with his great grandfather, who served in the American Army during WWI while still an Italian citizen. After leaving the Army, he became an American citizen, starting a tradition of service with Joe’s great uncles serving in WWII and his father serving in the Army as well. Joe himself spent time in the Virginia Military Institute.

All of this further instilled Joe’s love of the country and a deep respect for those who served it. Later in life he had his German Shepard trained by a local trainer who was also a veteran, igniting a fire in Joe to figure out how he could serve those who have served and sacrificed so much for all of us and our great country.

Download this positive and uplifting episode to hear Joe’s story and learn how we can all honor and help our veterans by supporting K9Heroes4Heroes.