Chuck Ziegenfuss of Hero Labradors was pictured with some of his dogs in 2019. He and five other veterans were recently honored by Evan Williams Bourbon for their continued impact. FILE | WCMESSENGER
U.S. Army veteran Chuck Ziegenfuss nearly lost his life while serving in Iraq. And despite his lifelong scars, the Decatur resident never stopped giving back, even after his military career ended.
Since 2016, the former Army major has provide about 200 military veterans with service dogs at no cost, thanks to his nonprofit, Hero Labradors, and its partner training programs.
For his continued impact both at home and abroad, Ziegenfuss was named to this year’s American-Made Heroes program by Evan Williams Bourbon, along with five other veterans. Honorees are featured on the label of Evan Williams’ 1783 Small Batch and receive a $5,000 grant for their nonprofit through the company’s American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund, which has supported more than 60 veteran-led organizations since 2015.
“Each year, we are humbled by the incredible veterans who continue to lead and inspire their communities,” said Carrie Shain, senior brand manager at Evan Williams Bourbon, in a press release. “This year’s American-Made Hero editions bring their stories into the hands of Bourbon lovers nationwide, serving as a reminder of the bravery and resilience that define the American spirit.”
Ziegenfuss, who said he’s been known to occasionally enjoy a glass of bourbon himself, said the recognition came as a pleasant surprise. He hopes it will only expand the impact Hero Labradors has on the lives of service members — an experience he’s lived.
Chuck Ziegenfuss, an Army veteran and Decatur resident, is featured on Evan Williams Bourbon bottles as part of the national whiskey brand’s American-Made heroes campaign. This bottle was found at Eigher Liquor in Decatur, but it’s being distributed nationally this summer. AUSTIN JACKSON | WCMESSENGER
Ziegenfuss, who enlisted in 1990 and served as a cavalry scout, was seriously injured in Iraq in 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated just feet away.
He flatlined twice, underwent more than 60 surgeries, and spent several years in recovery.
During that time, a Labrador retriever named Major helped him regain a sense of purpose and stability. When a health defect cut Major’s life short, Ziegenfuss grew determined to breed dogs with the traits and longevity needed to better serve veterans for the long term. That mission led him to launch Hero Labradors, a Decatur-based nonprofit that donates purpose-bred puppies to service dog training programs.
Today, Hero Labradors has provided around 200 service dogs to those who served. The next batch, bringing the total number of puppies to 209, are currently at his house in Decatur.
“When we hit 100, that felt huge — and that was years ago,” he said. “Now we’re past 200, and with our graduation rate, that’s about 200 veterans helped. In dollar terms, that’s close to $10 million worth of trained service dogs provided to veterans and first responders for free.”
For Ziegenfuss, service animals were essential to his recovery. In the years following his injuries, he relied on dogs to manage both the physical challenges caused by balance issues and the emotional weight of PTSD. Surgeries eventually restored some mobility, and he developed new ways to cope with the mental strain — but the dogs remained a steady source of support.
“These dogs were literally like a crutch for me,” he said.
To him, service dogs are a bridge to independence. If a veteran no longer needs a dog after 10 years, that’s a success in his eyes. And if they do need another, it means the first one helped them reclaim a more normal life. In nearly every case, he said, the outcome is positive.
The dogs are matched with veterans, first responders and in rare cases, their immediate family members — always at no cost to the recipient. In addition to breeding and transporting these Labrador puppies, Hero Labradors is affiliated with The Hero Academy, a volunteer-run training program that prepares both service and facility dogs. Dogs that don’t meet the rigorous criteria for service work may still become facility dogs — continuing their impact in other meaningful ways.
“The agreement is that the recipient is a veteran, a first responder or family member of that population, and they receive that trained dog for free,” he said. “These dogs have been bred and trained to help people with disabilities, and that isn’t cheap. Some programs require community fundraising to help offset the cost, but we don’t. Would you require a veteran to seek donations for a wheelchair? No. These dogs are just as necessary.”
For the most part, Hero Labradors has operated on grassroots support, Ziegenfuss said. A sponsorship from the Daughters of the American Revolution helped the organization survive the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We wouldn’t have made it through otherwise. But it’s amazing that we’ve done all this with community support and small donations, without big corporate donors,” Ziegenfuss said. “Evan Williams is actually our first national corporate grant — that came through one of their programs this year.”
One need Ziegenfuss mentioned for the service dog training industry in general is qualified foster homes for the dogs. He pointed to Canine Companions, a national program, and other Texas based programs, that people may be able to help.
To donate or for information about Hero Labradors and the Hero Academy, visit https://www.herolabradors.org/
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