Veteran’s Day: Dog Chow, Justin Baldoni Partner for ‘Service Dog Salute’ at NY Dog Film Festival

In honor of Veteran’s Day, Purina Dog Chow and actor, director and New York Times best-selling author Justin Baldoni have announced the winner of the new “Service Dog Salute” category of the 9^th Annual NY Dog Film Festival, spotlighting powerful stories of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) service dogs and the positive impact they’ve made on veterans’ lives.

The winning film, A Dog Can Make a Difference by Spencer Matches, explores the impact of PTSD on veterans and their families and the healing they’ve found through their service dogs, including the mother of a veteran who suffered a devastating loss and has since dedicated her life to help train more service dogs for veterans.

Viewers can watch the film at YouTube.com/DogChow, and for every view from October 24 through Veterans Day on November 11, 2024, Purina Dog Chow will donate $5 (up to $75,000) to the Association of Service Dog Providers.

“Each finalist film was both heartbreaking and inspiring, and underscored the importance of making service dogs more accessible and affordable for veterans,” said Baldoni. “A Dog Can Make a Difference stood out because it was the most cohesive in its structure and the most emotionally powerful. The thoughtful narrative captured the lasting impact of PTSD on veterans not just individually but on their families, too.”

Baldoni consistently delves into complex and challenging issues in his film and TV endeavors, which also serves as the founding mission of his studio, Wayfarer Studios. Additionally, his podcast, The Man Enough Podcast, serves as a vital platform where he engages in meaningful conversations about mental health, domestic violence awareness and redefining masculinity; fostering open dialogue and encouraging listeners to confront and address their own struggles.

“As a filmmaker, I believe in the power of shining a spotlight on sensitive topics to educate and affect change,” said Baldoni. “I’m honored to partner with Dog Chow for this beautiful program to underscore the impact of PTSD service dogs and help progress towards a future where any veteran that needs a service dog can get one.”

The NY Dog Film Festival celebrates the love between dogs and their people. This year, the stories of service dogs take center stage in the new “Service Dog Salute” category, introduced by Dog Chow earlier this year, which invited filmmakers nationwide to explore the unique ways PTSD service dogs transform the lives of the military veterans they serve. A panel of judges within the NY Dog Film Festival narrowed the films to three finalists, and Baldoni selected the winner.

For every view of the winning film A Dog Can Make a Difference at YouTube.com/DogChow through Veterans Day on November 11, Purina Dog Chow will donate $5, up to $75,000, to the Association of Service Dog Providers, a coalition of non-profit service dog providers, to help train more PTSD service dogs at no cost to the veterans.

All the Service Dog Salute finalist films will be shown in theaters across the U.S. throughout 2025 as part of the NY Dog Film Festival’s annual film tour.