Veteran Deanna Garcia and her service dog Missy were recognized Friday as the 300th team to graduate from Northwest Battle Buddies during a ceremony honoring the group’s 293rd through 302nd dogs.

Shannon Walker founded Northwest Battle Buddies in 2012 after three decades working with dogs. She said her father, a Korean War veteran, pushed her toward helping veterans.

“My dad taught me to believe in God, family and country, and when you’re in the presence of a veteran, you’re in the presence of a hero,” Walker said. “He served during the Korean War, but he never considered himself a hero. But there wasn’t one time that I would see him shake another veteran’s hand and thank them for their service without a quivering chin.”

Walker, who also runs a for-profit dog training business called Ma

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