Heartland K9s

Heartland Canines for Veterans gives fully trained service dogs to eligible disabled U.S. veterans, and the veteran pays nothing. The nonprofit calls Neosho, Missouri home and has placed dogs with veterans since 2015. Cosmick Media handled the nonprofit website design and development for the new Heartland K9s website.

Their tagline says it best: “So They Never Walk Alone.” Our job was to give that mission a home online that is easy to read, easy to trust and easy to act on.

Heartland Canines for Veterans gives fully trained service dogs to eligible disabled U.S. veterans, and the veteran pays nothing. The nonprofit calls Neosho, Missouri home and has placed dogs with veterans since 2015. Cosmick Media handled the nonprofit website design and development for the new Heartland K9s website.

Their tagline says it best: “So They Never Walk Alone.” Our job was to give that mission a home online that is easy to read, easy to trust and easy to act on.

Nonprofit website design for two very different visitors

Most people who land on the site fall into one of two groups. On one side, a veteran or a family member wants to know if a service dog is the right fit. On the other side, a donor, volunteer or local business wants to help.

So the homepage hero offers two clear choices right away: Support a Service Dog or Apply for a Dog. From there, each visitor gets a path written for them, instead of one long page that tries to speak to everyone at once.

A clear, honest path for veterans

A service dog is a 10 to 15 year commitment. Heartland is upfront about that, and the site reflects it. For example, the Veterans page opens with the “5 Questions” every veteran should think about before applying, such as whether they can care for a dog every single day.

Next, the Program page walks through the process one step at a time:

• Read the 5 Questions. Veterans start by thinking through the commitment, with no wrong answers.
• Online screening application. A short form helps the team get to know the veteran, their conditions and their needs.
• Phone conversation. A Heartland representative calls for a baseline assessment.
• Full application. Selected veterans receive a detailed application by email.
• Finding the right fit. The team then searches for a dog that matches the veteran’s needs, and training begins.

As a result, veterans know exactly what happens next before they ever fill out a form.

Giving the BarKode program its own spotlight

BarKode is one of Heartland’s most important services. Each Heartland-trained team gets a unique team number and QR code. In an emergency, first responders can scan it to see the dog’s photo, trained tasks, emergency contacts and veterinarian.

Heartland dedicated the program to Derron and his service dog, Rosie. After Derron passed away, Rosie spent days away from her family because no one knew who to call. For that reason, we gave BarKode its own homepage section and a full page that tells this story and explains how the program protects teams.

Making it simple to give and get involved

Donations keep every placement free for veterans. Because of that, the Donate page puts every option side by side: Zeffy, PayPal, an Amazon wishlist for daily needs and a car raffle with Lamar Elks Lodge 2800. It also lists a mailing address for checks.

Meanwhile, the Get Involved page covers campaigns, volunteering, the “Paws for Training” foster program and the “Back the Pack” partner program for local businesses. Real veteran stories, like Madison’s journey with her dog Gunther, show supporters exactly where their help goes.

Nonprofit website design that stays easy to manage

Finally, the site runs on a custom WordPress theme built for Heartland K9s, with Gravity Forms handling applications and contact requests. Contact form subjects send each message to the right place, whether it is a veteran inquiry, a donation question or a partnership request. The Heartland team can also add stories, campaigns and partners on their own.

Cosmick Media builds websites for nonprofits, pet businesses and local organizations across the country. See our work for San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office, learn about our custom website development services, or talk to our team about your organization.

Nonprofit website design for two very different visitors

Most people who land on the site fall into one of two groups. On one side, a veteran or a family member wants to know if a service dog is the right fit. On the other side, a donor, volunteer or local business wants to help.

So the homepage hero offers two clear choices right away: Support a Service Dog or Apply for a Dog. From there, each visitor gets a path written for them, instead of one long page that tries to speak to everyone at once.

A clear, honest path for veterans

A service dog is a 10 to 15 year commitment. Heartland is upfront about that, and the site reflects it. For example, the Veterans page opens with the “5 Questions” every veteran should think about before applying, such as whether they can care for a dog every single day.

Next, the Program page walks through the process one step at a time:

• Read the 5 Questions. Veterans start by thinking through the commitment, with no wrong answers.
• Online screening application. A short form helps the team get to know the veteran, their conditions and their needs.
• Phone conversation. A Heartland representative calls for a baseline assessment.
• Full application. Selected veterans receive a detailed application by email.
• Finding the right fit. The team then searches for a dog that matches the veteran’s needs, and training begins.

As a result, veterans know exactly what happens next before they ever fill out a form.

Giving the BarKode program its own spotlight

BarKode is one of Heartland’s most important services. Each Heartland-trained team gets a unique team number and QR code. In an emergency, first responders can scan it to see the dog’s photo, trained tasks, emergency contacts and veterinarian.

Heartland dedicated the program to Derron and his service dog, Rosie. After Derron passed away, Rosie spent days away from her family because no one knew who to call. For that reason, we gave BarKode its own homepage section and a full page that tells this story and explains how the program protects teams.

Making it simple to give and get involved

Donations keep every placement free for veterans. Because of that, the Donate page puts every option side by side: Zeffy, PayPal, an Amazon wishlist for daily needs and a car raffle with Lamar Elks Lodge 2800. It also lists a mailing address for checks.

Meanwhile, the Get Involved page covers campaigns, volunteering, the “Paws for Training” foster program and the “Back the Pack” partner program for local businesses. Real veteran stories, like Madison’s journey with her dog Gunther, show supporters exactly where their help goes.

Nonprofit website design that stays easy to manage

Finally, the site runs on a custom WordPress theme built for Heartland K9s, with Gravity Forms handling applications and contact requests. Contact form subjects send each message to the right place, whether it is a veteran inquiry, a donation question or a partnership request. The Heartland team can also add stories, campaigns and partners on their own.

Cosmick Media builds websites for nonprofits, pet businesses and local organizations across the country. See our work for San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office, learn about our custom website development services, or talk to our team about your organization.