About — The Ruff Ruck Challenge

Mission

Our Mission

The Ruff Ruck Challenge exists to raise funds and awareness that directly place fully trained service dogs, at no cost, with U.S. veterans and first responders who need them.

We do this through an annual military-inspired ruck march in West Michigan — the Ruff Ruck Challenge — and through year-round fundraising, sponsorships, and community partnerships. Every dollar raised is measured against a simple standard: every $10,000 places one service dog.

"We built this for the people who carried so much for the rest of us. Every step we take is a down payment on a dog that will stand watch for a veteran or a first responder for the next ten years."

— Tony Laskowicz, Founder

Origin

How It Started

The Ruff Ruck Challenge was born from a single act of service.

Tony Laskowicz learned that one of his employees had a service dog in desperate need of life-saving surgery — and no way to pay for it. So he laced up, shouldered a ruck, opened a Facebook Live stream, and started walking.

He walked for 20 miles. He didn't stop until the money was raised.

The community showed up. The dog made it. And in the quiet after the walk, one question hung in the air: if we can do this for one dog, what could we do if we did it on purpose?

That question became The Ruff Ruck Challenge — an annual ruck in Muskegon that has grown into a mission-driven 501(c)(3) funding service dog placements for veterans and first responders year-round.

We kept the spirit of that first 20-mile walk: show up, carry the weight, do the work, take care of each other.

Training Partners

How the Dogs Get Trained

We don't train dogs ourselves. We fund the placement, then partner with trusted nonprofit training organizations that place service dogs at no cost with veterans and first responders — and that, whenever possible, source dogs from shelters and rescues to give both the dog and the handler a second chance. Each partner has its own training methodology.

West Michigan K9 Foundation (WMK9)

Our flagship regional training partner. WMK9 provides service dogs to veterans and first responders, supporting each handler through training and beyond placement.

K9 Jaeger Foundation

A training partner nonprofit that works with service dogs for veterans and first responders using cooperative training, positive reinforcement, and a handler-first philosophy.

Mission-Aligned Partners

We work with additional training organizations that share our values. If your nonprofit places service dogs with veterans or first responders, sources dogs from shelters and rescues when possible, and shares our handler-first values, we want to hear from you.

Become a Partner

Accountability

How Your Dollars Become Dogs

We believe donors deserve to see the path every dollar takes.

You Give

Donate online, register for the ruck, or sponsor a team. 100% goes to the mission.

Fund Builds

Dollars pool toward the $10,000 it takes to place one fully trained service dog.

Dog is Sourced

Training partners select and vet a candidate dog — often from a shelter or rescue.

Training Begins

Months of handler-first training with the recipient, using methods chosen by the placing partner organization.

Placement

The dog goes home with the veteran or first responder — at no cost to them.

Lifetime Support

Training partners stay connected to the handler throughout the service dog's working life.

Transparency

501(c)(3) Accountability

The Ruff Ruck Challenge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

EIN: 99-5088051
Registered Location: Norton Shores, Michigan
Contact for Mail: Email us first for direct mailing details.
IRS Form 990: Available upon request and posted annually.
Financial Summary: Published with our annual impact report.

Verify on IRS.gov ↗ Request Financial Documents

Who We Are