About Us

Building Battle Buddies was founded in 2025 by Matthew Tarlton, Angela Young, and Billy Skipper to pair rescue dogs with Combat Veterans, Law Enforcement Officers, and First Responders through a 21-day immersive training program. The goal: save two lives at once.

Matt and Angela, both Navy veterans and former military dog handlers, started No Quarter K9 after their service. Their journey with their Belgian Malinois, Loki, showed them firsthand how training dogs could be therapeutic and healing. After volunteering at the local animal shelter in Yulee, FL, they saw the powerful connection between misunderstood dogs and veterans battling their own invisible wounds.

Our program empowers participants to train their own service dogs—primarily rescues from Nassau County, FL—bringing purpose, healing, and partnership to both humans and dogs.

Meet the Founders

Matt Tarlton

A 23-year Navy veteran and Military Working Dog handler, Matt has served with elite units around the world. After facing deep personal struggles during his transition out of the military, the bond with his dog Loki helped him find a renewed sense of purpose. Building Battle Buddies is his way of giving back.

Angela Young

Angela served 21 years in the Navy, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. She credits her Military Working Dog with helping her through immense personal loss and trauma. Angela is passionate about helping others find healing through the love and loyalty of a dog.

Billy Skipper

An Army veteran and former Jumpmaster in the 82nd Airborne, Billy brings a lifetime of service and a deep commitment to supporting Veterans, LEOs, and First Responders. A Nassau County native, Billy helps train service dogs that provide critical support and companionship to those in need.

Building Battle Buddies trains qualified Veterans and First Responders to train their own personal service dog rescued from the animal shelter.