2018 Milestone: K-9 Flash Wins

K-9 Flash, Project K-9 Hero's co-Founder, very first Program Member, and first National Ambassador.

K-9 Flash’s journey began on the streets of Everett, Washington. Found without a home or ID, she was scheduled for euthanasia the day she was accepted into Narcotics K-9 training in October 2005. Sick and on medications, Flash excelled in training, scoring a perfect 100% on her certification, the only K-9 in her class to do so.

Flash served the Yakima Police Department from 2005–2013, completing over 3,000 deployments and 2,200 narcotics finds, while engaging in school visits, public demonstrations, and community events. She was Project K-9 Hero Foundation’s very first Program Member #001 and the inspiration behind the organization’s founding.

After serving as Flash's first handler, Jason Johnson, our Founder, later adopted her when she retired. She came to him with many service-related illnesses, including Lyme Disease, and no financial support from the government to help her manage them. Jason knew then that he needed to do something to help other dogs like Flash, and Project K-9 Hero was born.

Flash became a national hero when she was named Law Enforcement Dog of the Year in the American Humane Hero Dog Awards, which honor “ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things.”

“Flash winning the Law Enforcement Hero Dog of the Year really put our nonprofit on the national map,” said founder Jason Johnson.

You can read K-9 Flash's complete bio for more information about her history.