1511 Palo Duro Canyon Dr
League City, Texas 77573
832-724-4222
EIN 39-4408544
About Us
The K9 Companion Project
Healing Together. Training For Life.
The K9 Companion Project was founded by Amy Wulfers-Cefaratti, Vania Ochoa, Jacob Chiasson, and Ashra Dunker whose passions for advocacy, healing-centered care, and community service inspired the creation of an organization focused on both human and animal rescue.
Alongside an experienced leadership team that includes financial professionals, holistic wellness practitioners, and community advocates and collaborations, the organization is being built with a long-term commitment to integrity, sustainability, transparency, and meaningful impact.
Every aspect of the organization is centered on one goal:
Creating real, lasting change in the lives of people and rescue dogs.
The K9 Companion Project was founded on a simple but powerful belief:
No one should have to heal alone.
Across the country, thousands of individuals are struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, isolation, loss of purpose, physical challenges, and emotional wounds that often go unseen. At the same time, thousands of highly capable rescue dogs are sitting in shelters waiting for a second chance at life.
The K9 Companion Project was created to bring those two lives together. We are a nonprofit organization (EIN 39-4408544) dedicated to building life-changing partnerships between people and rescue dogs through a unique co-training model rooted in healing, purpose, trust, and connection.
More Than Dog Training
The K9 Companion Project is not simply about training service dogs.
It is about creating an environment where both the person and the dog grow together.
Traditional service dog programs often involve years-long waiting lists and costs that can exceed tens of thousands of dollars per dog. Meanwhile, shelters across the country continue to euthanize dogs that may have incredible potential to become loving companions and working partners. We believe there is a better way.
Our model focuses on:
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Rescue
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Partnership
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Co-Training
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Emotional Wellness
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Confidence Building
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Real-World Readiness
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Long-Term Support
Rather than simply “receiving” a fully trained dog, participants are actively involved in the journey from the beginning. Through structured training, shared experiences, and therapeutic support, both the individual and the dog learn to trust, adapt, and heal together.
The result is not just a trained companion.
It is a deeply bonded team.
Our Vision
Our vision is to create a comprehensive healing-centered campus where individuals and rescue dogs can train, recover, and thrive together in a safe and supportive environment.
The K9 Companion Project is designed to go beyond traditional models by incorporating a whole-person approach to wellness.
As the organization grows, our long-term vision includes:
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Rescue dog assessment and training
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Participant co-training programs
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Movement and physical wellness therapy
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Aquatic therapy
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Nutritional guidance
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Massage and holistic therapies
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Trauma-informed support services
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Confidence and life-skills development
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Group support and community connection
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Outdoor therapeutic environments
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Long-term follow-up and mentorship
We believe healing is not one-dimensional.
It happens through connection, consistency, purpose, structure, and community.
Why Rescue Dogs?
Rescue dogs often understand fear, uncertainty, survival, and the need for trust.
Many of the individuals we hope to serve understand those feelings too.
When properly evaluated, supported, and trained, rescue dogs can become extraordinary companions and working partners. They also provide something that cannot be manufactured:
A shared journey.
By rescuing dogs and building partnerships through co-training, we create an opportunity for transformation on both ends of the leash.
Two lives change together.
Looking Forward
The K9 Companion Project is actively working toward developing a permanent healing and training campus that will allow us to expand services, rescue more dogs, and serve more individuals in need.
This vision includes immersive training opportunities, therapeutic support programs, outdoor wellness spaces, and a community-centered environment designed to foster healing, resilience, and hope.
We know this mission is ambitious.
But we also know that healing becomes possible when compassion, structure, partnership, and purpose come together.
And sometimes, the beginning of a new life starts with four paws and a second chance.