Raised in Lithia Springs, Georgia, Chris Baity exhibited loyalty, integrity, and selflessness from a young age. He joined the JROTC as a high school freshman and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2000, specializing as a Military Working Dog Handler and Kennel Master. He completed three tours in Iraq, canvassing combat zones with his canine team to detect enemy explosives and keep fellow service members safe from IEDs. During this time, he also trained at the Israeli Defense Force's Oketz Dog School, and later deployed to Afghanistan as a contractor.
Upon completion of service, Chris and his wife, Amanda, founded Semper K9 Assistance Dogs: a non-profit organization that turns rescue dogs into service dogs. Chris trains each animal to provide companionship and emotional support to military veterans and their families, addressing a range of physical and psychiatric needs including PTSD and mobility challenges. He provides these services free-of-charge. Since 2014, Chris has graduated over thirty dog teams.
"I wanted to take the skills the Marine Corps taught me, and help other veterans overcome their own difficulties," says Chris, who himself struggled with PTSD. "I continually try to learn the techniques and options being offered to disabled veterans." In addition to fundraising for Semper K9, Chris volunteers at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, where he gives tours to advocate, educate, and inspire others.
While Chris believes that, "Praise is best consumed in private," his tireless dedication has earned him numerous accolades, including "Washingtonian of the Year" by Washingtonian magazine and "Red Bandana Hero of the Year" by the American Heroes Channel.
For more information on how you can get involved with Semper K9, go to http://www.semperk9.org.
christopher’S PHOTO GALLERY
![Baity (MWD Rona) and Kinney (MWD Hans) in Baghdad Iraq being awarded Army Commendation Medals for service to the US Army.](images/vet-gallery/2018/Chris Baity/PICT0094 (3).jpg)
![Baity and MWD Rona K459 in Pre-deployment.](images/vet-gallery/2018/Chris Baity/PICT0032 (11).jpg)
![Specializing in finding roadside IED and weapons caches, Rona and Baity during Operation Pericles, Baghdad Iraq.](images/vet-gallery/2018/Chris Baity/Operation Pericles (27).jpg)
![Baity and Service Dog in-Training](images/vet-gallery/2018/Chris Baity/PICT0094 (4).jpg)
![Baity and Service Dog](images/vet-gallery/2018/Chris Baity/GIFILM.jpg)
![Baity joined the Marine Corps after high school and went to MCRD Parris Island, SC.](images/vet-gallery/2018/Chris Baity/Chris Service Photo.jpg)
![Baity and Service Dog](images/vet-gallery/2018/Chris Baity/Chris Rona.jpg)
![Camp Semper K9 service as a training facility for service dogs year round. (Left to right: Service Dogs Vinny, Morti and Norman).](images/vet-gallery/2018/Chris Baity/Chris Baity with service dogs L-R Vinny Morti and Norman.jpg)
![Baity and Service Dog](images/vet-gallery/2018/Chris Baity/Chris and Vinny.jpg)
![Baity and MWD Reza in 2001. Graduating](images/vet-gallery/2018/Chris Baity/Chris and MWD Riza.jpg)
![Chris completing his first combat deployment in 2004 with MWD Marco F281. Photo taken at Al Asad Iraq.](images/vet-gallery/2018/Chris Baity/Chris _ diesel.jpg)
![Baity with Service Dog](images/vet-gallery/2018/Chris Baity/27500839_1574789439269094_2767537148103504232_o.jpg)