Operation Freedom Paws: Restoring Freedom and Hope
For veterans living with the physical and psychological scars of service, healing can be a lifelong journey. Operation Freedom Paws (OFP), a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, gives that journey new meaning through the powerful bond between people and dogs. Founded by Army veteran Mary Cortani in 2010, the organization pairs service dogs, many rescued from shelters, with veterans, first responders, and individuals with disabilities, training them together as a team over a 48-week program.
This partnership transforms both lives. Clients and their dogs build trust, confidence, and the ability to face the world again with renewed purpose. Each pairing is carefully matched, ensuring that every service dog meets the specific physical or emotional needs of their handler.
Addressing a National Crisis
Every day, an average of 22 U.S. veterans lose their lives to suicide. Behind those numbers are individuals battling post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries, anxiety, and depression. OFP helps bridge that gap between isolation and connection, providing veterans with highly trained service dogs at no cost.
The program’s comprehensive approach, covering training, therapy, veterinary care, and 24/7 support, costs approximately $20,000 per team. Thanks to donations and partnerships, clients never pay a cent. It’s a model rooted in compassion, accountability, and community.
Sean Brownlee: From Service to Support
As a U.S. Marine with 25 years of service in the Special Operations community, Sean Brownlee understands firsthand the importance of mission, purpose, and support networks. Today, as a business owner and advocate, he continues his service in a different way, by supporting his fellow veterans through Operation Freedom Paws.
As an ambassador for OFP, Sean works closely with Mary Cortani and her team to raise awareness and resources for the program. His company, Ravenox, donates 10% of all dog leash proceeds to OFP, ensuring more veterans can access the life-changing support these service dog partnerships provide.
From Ropes to Rescue
Founded in 2012, Ravenox was built on the values Sean learned in the Marine Corps—discipline, craftsmanship, and service. What began as a rope-making business has grown into a brand that proudly manufactures American-made cordage, dog leashes, and other textile products.
In collaboration with OFP, Sean helped design durable leashes specifically for the organization’s human-canine service teams. Every purchase of a Ravenox dog leash contributes directly to OFP’s mission, supporting both rescued dogs and the veterans they serve. This partnership brings together two passions, love for country and love for canines, into a single purpose: empowering heroes to heal.
Healing Two Lives at a Time
OFP’s service dogs are more than companions, they’re partners in recovery. Some dogs are trained to create space in crowded environments, others to interrupt anxiety attacks, alert to migraines, or steady a handler’s balance. Each task is tailored to help a veteran regain independence and confidence in public spaces.
The beauty of the OFP model is that the dogs are often rescues themselves. As veterans learn to train their dogs, both human and canine experience a second chance at life, one built on trust, healing, and unconditional support.
Continuing the Mission
Sean’s role as an ambassador extends beyond financial support. Through outreach, advocacy, and storytelling, he helps amplify OFP’s mission and highlight the life-saving impact of service dogs. His work ensures more people learn about this vital organization and the veterans it serves.
At its heart, Operation Freedom Paws is about restoring dignity, purpose, and freedom, one team at a time. As Sean often says, the connection between a veteran and their service dog doesn’t just change lives, it saves them.
How to Support Operation Freedom Paws
Every donation helps create another successful pairing between a veteran and a rescue dog. Whether through direct contributions or by purchasing a Ravenox dog leash, supporters can make a tangible difference.
To learn more or donate, visit Operation Freedom Paws and join the mission to empower veterans, one paw at a time.