Burros for Heroes Foundation, Inc.
Animal Allies
Real stories about the animals who stand beside us.
Some have paws. Some have hooves. Some are trained to serve, while others simply seem to know when we need them most. Animal Allies celebrates the animals that bring connection, comfort, purpose, confidence, and peace into our lives. Everyone is invited to share their Battle Buddy story.
Every Meaningful Connection Matters
Your Animal Ally does not need a title or certification.
Stories may feature service animals, therapy animals, emotional-support animals, companion animals and pets, rescued animals, horses and burros, farm animals, animals in training, or any other animal that has made a meaningful difference in someone’s life.
The term “Battle Buddy” carries special meaning in military life, but Animal Allies is open to everyone. We welcome respectful stories from Veterans, families, first responders, and communities nationwide.
We identify an animal as a service or therapy animal only when the person submitting the story describes the animal that way. Animal Allies does not make medical claims or represent featured animals as professional treatment.
Published Stories
Meet the Animal Allies
Every story shown here has been reviewed and approved by Burros for Heroes. Public submissions never appear automatically.
Coping with grief
Aleigha & Winston
I adopted Winston from the shelter not long after I lost my brother to suicide. Winston was only 6 months old, I was 17 trying to cope with the loss of my brother and ...
Read Their Story →
The Dog Nobody Wanted, but the Dog I’ll Never Forget
Destiny Hamilton & Dax
Dax came into my life at a time when I was already going through one of the biggest changes of my life. I was pregnant with my son when, in April 2024, we went to a lo...
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From a creek to my heart
Trinity & Towdow
When I was 13, my grandparents brought home what looked like a mangled rat in a box. My grandma immediately told me, “We aren’t keeping it.” They had found her freezin...
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The Voids
Lyndsey Mullins & Binx & Salem
About two years ago, my daughter brought home a black cat that she named Salem. I had been allergic to cats almost all of my life, and was extremely against the idea o...
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The Little Love Bugs
Jayde Mullins & Salem & Castiel
I adopted two cats a year apart from each other after literally never owning a cat, or being around cats my whole life. I had heard all the misconceptions about cats (...
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Growing Up Together
Nellie & Tala
Tala became part of our family before my first birthday. She was already about two years old when my family rescued her, so I do not remember a life without her. She h...
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Korra
Abby & Korra
I got my golden doodle, Korra, during one of the hardest seasons of my life. My Mamaw was my best friend. She was in her final days fighting cancer, and I was caring f...
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Tyson — My Once-in-a-Lifetime Boy
Lytishia & Tyson & Tyson
Some dogs come into your life and become part of your family. Some become so much more, they become your reason to keep going. Tyson was only six weeks old when he ...
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Hank
Anna & Hank
We got Hank in the middle of our infertility journey and he has just made us happier in so many ways we are now expecting a sweet little boy and they are gonna be best...
Read Their Story →Need to update or remove a story?
A pending submission can be updated using its case number and the email address used to submit it. After approval or publication, please contact Burros for Heroes and include the Animal Allies case number.