K-9 Django

Program Member #94

It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share in the passing of K-9 Django, who was inducted in August of 2020 as our 94th member of the Project K-9 Hero Pack.

Django was retired from the Santa Paula Police Department in California, where he needed two emergency surgeries shortly after his career was ended due to Gastric Torsion and complications from it. This left his Handler with $16,000.00 in medical bills and personal debt.

Once we were contacted with this special case, we knew we needed to assist Django and his Handler. Project K-9 Hero was able to get the charges she paid on her personal credit card reversed, and have them placed on Project K-9 Hero’s account. We are proud of our nonprofit organization's unique ability to be able to take on all $16,000.00 worth of debt, removing the worry from someone who is still serving our community everyday.

If you would like to see Django in action, check out episode five on season one of America's Top Dog on A&E and watch Django win! We were honored to serve Django and cover all of his medical care for the last 4.5 years. We only wish we could have done more!

Rest in Peace K-9 Django, we will Never Let You Be Forgotten.

May 12th, 2014 - May 9th, 2025

MWD Uumbro

Program Member #144

It is with an extremely heavy heart  that we share the news that Military Working Dog “UUmbro” passed away from complications of a liver infection. MWD UUmbro was rehomed through Project K-9 Hero on September 9th, 2021 to Dr. Shirley Meredith M.D., who traveled from Kentucky to Colorado to pick up her new Hero. Pictured here is a photo from that magical day of the two of them!

Over the last 3.5 years, Shirley and UUmbro were inseparable. UUmbro loved Veterans and accompanied Shirley on all of her VA Appointments. He attended our last three Performers For Paws  events, and other PK9H Fundraisers. He had some medical issues along the way, which we at PK9H were honored to cover, but the onset of his illness last month was rapid and unexpected.

Please send your thoughts out to Shirley, as I know she is missing UUmbro more than anything. Rest in Peace, Military Working Dog UUmbro (PK9H #144), we will Never let you be Forgotten!

February 2, 2011 - May 26th, 2025

K-9 Sara

Program Member #207

It is with an extremely heavy heart  we announce the passing of Project K-9 Hero Program Member #207, K-9 Sara, who left us  with dignity and honor along side his Handler.

K-9 Sara, who worked for the Department of Homeland Security / Transportation Security Administration - TSA, was a male Labrador Retriever trained in explosives detection. He honorably served for four years, working at the Seattle Airport, the Cincinnati Airport, the Boston Airport, and Chicago O’Hare Airport from where he retired and lived with his former Handler in Arizona. He participated in security operations at national special events such as the Kentucky Derby and the NCAA Final Four.

Project K-9 Hero was honored to cover all of Sara’s medical expenses at 100% for the last 2 1/2 years of his life. K-9 Sara was deeply loved by his Handler, and he served the citizens of United States of America with true dedication and distinction.

Below is a quote from his Handler:

“This afternoon marked Sara's End of Watch. We started this journey together and I'm honored to have been there at the finish.

From our start working in Texas, Seattle, and Cincinnati, to him enjoying the love and relaxation of retirement, I can say without regret that he lived a full life. He was my best friend and partner across every major event in my adult life and my life will forever be stamped and enriched by his presence.

He brought happiness to every person and animal he met, with a goofy smile and an invasive lean and a head nudge when he wasn't getting enough attention. If you were lucky, he would steal your seat the second you got up from the couch.

He was an absolutely beautiful soul and was cherished and loved by myself, my family, and anyone with the good fortune to have met him.

Dogs truly are man's best friend, and the 10+ years we spent working/living together will always be the best years of my life.”

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

March 22nd, 2012 - May 27th, 2025