No Jeff this week (stomach bug took him out), so Matt and Tyler hold down the mic with two guests who live at the intersection of service, dogs, and the outdoors: Brian Rollison (active duty Army armor officer) and Reid Parrish (Iraq & Afghanistan vet, full-time guide) from Hero to the Line.

Hero to the Line is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a simple mission and a massive impact: donate well-bred Labrador retriever puppies to veterans, active duty service members, and Gold Star families—then surround them with a community that helps them train, learn, and stay connected. We talk about why a dog can be the difference between sitting on the couch and getting outside, how training creates routine, and how a “new furry best friend” can help people work through life’s hardest chapters—whether that’s the transition to civilian life, grief, or the weight that follows deployment.

Brian shares his path from hunting doves in Virginia to chasing ducks across the country (and even a NATO rotation in Poland), and how receiving his lab Daisy changed everything. Reid breaks down how the organization grows through breeder relationships, sponsorships, and the magic of “whoopsie litters,” plus what it feels like watching recipients take that first step into the dog world—beds, food, training tips, and all.

We also get into the “holy cow” moment of seeing a finished-level dog run, why hunt tests flip a switch in people, and how Hero to the Line is building a nationwide network of dog owners and veterans (from Alaska to Florida).

Learn more / apply / support: Hero to the Line (hero2theline.org)

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Heroes, Labs & the Line: How Dogs Help Vets Keep Moving