Dog Tags 4 Life

Help Prevent Veteran Suicide

Over 16 Veterans die by suicide each day. We need to connect Veterans to trained professionals that can help them when they're in that dark place. At Dog Tags 4 Life, we distribute dog tags with the 988, then press 1 Veterans Crisis Line AKA Suicide Prevention Hotline number so it's at their fingertips if they or anyone they know ever need it. Donate today to help us spread the word.

How You Can Help

Help us by making a donation!

Donate Today!

Donations allow us to make and distribute more dog tags so we can get the information into the hands of more veterans.

Our Mission

At Dog Tags 4 Life, our mission is to spread the word about the Veterans Crisis Line (Dial 988, then press 1) using dog tags containing the information. We want these in the hands of as many Veterans as possible so the information is at their fingertips if/when they ever need it.

What Are Donations Used For

We are able to continue our mission thanks to generous donations from people like you. Dog Tags 4 Life is run by a 100% volunteer staff. No one receives any compensation at all for the work we do. All donations go towards creating and distributing dog tags and spreading the word about the Veterans Crisis Line.

How We Got Started

Our founder was on a zoom call for a National Veterans Service Organization (VSO). A participant had to leave because one of their members had just tried to commit suicide. After they left, another participant shared that one of their members committed suicide two weeks prior. A few days later, our founder was watching a documentary. It showed someone working on a crisis hotline. That's when the lightbulb went on!

The new 988 number had only been live nationwide for eight months. But how many people knew about 988, then press 1? The results of an informal poll among fellow veterans showed that less than one in five knew about the new number. That became the challenge: what can I do to spread the word so that any veteran who needs the number, has it at their fingertips? What could be inexpensively produced and distributed that would resonate with veterans? After a bit of searching online, the answer became clear: Dog Tag Key Chains! Our founder reached out to a few other veterans who shared the same passion for the cause of veteran suicide prevention and Dog Tags 4 Life was born.

Who Are We

Dog Tags 4 Life is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our IRS EIN is 92-2893368. We hold a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and are searchable on the IRS website.

We are staffed by veterans who have come together for a common cause: Reduce the rate of veteran suicide. The latest numbers show that an average of over 16 veterans each day take their own life. More post 9/11 veterans have died by suicide than died in combat. There are many organizations working to lower that number and we're trying to do our part as well. Some feedback we've received is that having that physical object with them at all times is a constant reminder that they're not alone and help is available, if needed. Although dog tag silencers are readily available online, without them, the dog tags make a distinctive sound when added to your keychain. It's a constant reminder that help is there.

Dog Tag Sample

This is a sample of what the dog tags look like. They are standard military dog tags made by the same company that supplies the military with the ball chains used for standard issue dog tags.

Can I Buy Some Dog Tags To Distribute?

We don't "sell" the dog tags per say, but we do have a recommended donation amount of $0.40 per tag which comes out to 50 tags for $20. We also have display cases with a recommended donation amount of $5 each. Shipping usually costs us around $15.

The donations are completely optional, but that's how we are able to continue doing what we do. We are a 100% volunteer organization and all work is done for free. All donations go towards creating and distributing dog tags and spreading the word about the Veterans Crisis Line. Availability of tags varies based on our tag to donation ratio. If you're interested in obtaining some tags, send us an email and we'll see what we can do.

Need Help?

If you're a Veteran in a mental health crisis and you're thinking about hurting yourself-or you know a Veteran who's considering this-get help right away. You're not alone. Dial 988, then press 1 to connect to the Veterans Crisis Line.