Treasure Coast nonprofit · Port St. Lucie, Florida
Aligning mental health support with K9 ambition.
We pair trained dogs with the people who carry the heaviest invisible loads: veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, families, and anyone living with anxiety, depression, or PTSD.
“He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.”Psalm 23:2–3
Our name is our promise: every program is built to bring people, and their dogs, to a place of calm.
Four ways we help
From a first class to a fully trained partner, there is a place to start wherever you are.
Step 1 · Start here
Calm-dog training
Group classes and private lessons for obedience and reactivity, taught with stress relief for the human end of the leash too.
Sliding-scale fees
Step 2 · Connect
Therapy dog visits
Registered volunteer teams bring calm to hospitals, fire and police stations, schools, and nursing homes.
Free for most sites
Step 3 · Train together
Owner-trainer coaching
A guided program that helps you train your own suitable dog for psychiatric service work, with scholarships available.
6–12 month program
Step 4 · Partner
Psychiatric service dogs
Dogs task-trained to interrupt panic, ground through deep pressure, and wake handlers from nightmares, placed at low or no cost.
Donor-funded placements
Service dog, therapy dog, or emotional support animal? Only a dog individually trained to perform tasks for a person's disability is a service dog under the ADA. Therapy dogs and emotional support animals do important work but do not have public access rights. We'll help you find the right fit.
Who we serve
Veterans and first responders
Support for the weight of service, from the battlefield to the 3 a.m. call.
Healthcare workers
Founded by an emergency nurse who knows what a hard shift leaves behind.
Kids and families
Calm, confidence, and a furry friend for children facing anxiety and stress.
Our whole community
Anyone on the Treasure Coast living with anxiety, depression, or PTSD.
Get involved
Every trained service dog takes many months of work. You can be part of the journey from the very start.
Sponsor a dog
Fund one dog's journey from puppy to partner, in monthly installments, and follow along with training updates. Sponsorships open soon; join the list to be first.
Join the sponsor listJoin the Still Waters Circle
Monthly giving keeps food, vet care, and training running all year. Tell us you're interested and we'll reach out when giving opens.
Count me inVolunteer
Become a therapy dog team, raise a puppy in training, or help at events.
Sign up to volunteerFounded by an emergency nurse. Built for the Treasure Coast.
Port St. Lucie, FloridaStarted in the ER, built for our community
Still Waters K9 was founded by Ella Walby, an emergency department nurse in Port St. Lucie who has seen how much people carry after the crisis is over.
Our dog training is led by a certified partner trainer, using humane, reward-based methods.
Read more about Ella and her story at ellawalby.com.
Still Waters K9 is a Florida nonprofit in formation. 501(c)(3) status pending.
Reach out
Looking for support, want to volunteer, or interested in a therapy visit? Tell us a little and we'll be in touch.
info@stillwatersk9.com Your message is ready. Copy it and send it to info@stillwatersk9.com from your email.
In crisis? We are not a crisis service. Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency.