About Us
Empowering Veterans Through Animal Companionship
For many veterans, the unconditional bond with a shelter dog offers emotional healing and daily stability that medication and therapy alone cannot provide.
The Military Animal Project connects veterans living with post-traumatic stress (PTS), traumatic brain injury (TBI), military sexual trauma (MST), physical disability, anxiety, and depression to trained rescue dogs through personalized programs that foster trust, purpose, and recovery.
Every service we provide is completely FREE for eligible veterans.
Our Story
The Military Animal Project traces its roots to 2014 when Ron and Mardu Lydick launched Pets for Vets Ventura County to support local veterans through the healing power of companion animals. What began as a small regional initiative quickly showed the deep impact animal bonds could have on veterans returning home.
In 2018, Mardu Lydick partnered with Bob Horrell to expand that mission by founding the Military Animal Project. The new organization was created to serve veterans facing more complex challenges.
Their vision was to offer a highly personalized approach, pairing veterans with service dogs, emotional support dogs, and equine companions.
Before his passing in 2024, Bob played a pivotal role in building the organization’s foundation and programs. Today, founding members, Mardu and Ron Lydick continue to lead the organization with a team of more than 80 volunteers and over 65 certified therapy dog teams across California and Nevada.
Our Facility
In 2022, our mission expanded through an extraordinary gift from Ventura County WWII Navy “Seabee” Veteran William “Bill” L. Mors (1923-2021).
His generosity enabled us to acquire a 44-acre property in Reno, Nevada, dedicated to veteran healing.
This transformative facility provides:
- A permanent home for our animal support services
- Space for veterans from across the country
- Customized programming at no cost to veterans
- Travel, lodging, and meals for participants
- Bill’s legacy lives on through every veteran who finds healing here.
News & Events
It is with deepest sorrow that we honor the passing of Robert “Bob” Horrell, Co‑Founder and Executive Director of Military Animal Project. A Vietnam Navy veteran, trainer, and visionary, Bob dedicated his life to pairing veterans with rescue animals—a legacy of healing and compassion that continues to define MAP today.
Military Animal Project teamed up with Amazon Oxnard for the Paws & Patriots celebration, where certified therapy dogs and volunteers provided support, connection, and comfort to veterans and staff during a memorable Veterans Day outreach event.