Joni Bonilla is the founder of Operation At Ease, the Capital District’s first service dog organization dedicated to pairing shelter dogs with veterans and first responders. With over 25 years of dog training experience, Joni created a program that eliminates traditional costs and long waitlists, using rescued dogs to provide life-changing support to those who serve.
In addition to service dog placement, Operation At Ease runs a dedicated therapy dog program—the only one of its kind focused exclusively on serving men and women in uniform. These therapy dogs provide preventative emotional support for those at risk of post-traumatic stress and are deployed after critical incidents and emergencies to offer on-the-ground comfort and care. This unique program will be featured at the FASNY (Fire Association of the State of New York) Conference in 2025.
Joni has worked in many shelters along the East Coast, rehabilitating rescue dogs and giving them a new purpose. A strong advocate for the rights and mental health of veterans and first responders, she champions often-overlooked breeds—especially Pit Bulls—as ideal candidates for service work. (Golden Retrievers, she notes with humor, tend to be her least favorite for service tasks.)
Joni’s trailblazing efforts have earned her national recognition, including the Point of Light Award and the Jefferson Award, as well as numerous local honors.