2024 Annual Report Now Available
If you've been wondering how your support helps support our nation's retired K-9 Heroes, we encourage you to read our newly-published 2024 Annual Report, available digitally. Download the PDF and share it with your friends! Inside, you'll find details about our financials, so you know exactly where your donations are going. We’re proud to share this report with you as a clear reflection of our commitment to transparency. It shows how your generous donations are put to work and the real difference they make every day.
In more organizational news, we want to congratulate Sheena Haller for being promoted from Senior Director of Program Services to our new Vice President of Operations. See below for the details. As such, we are also pleased to announce the opening of another job opportunity with our organization!
The newly designed position of Manager of Program Services will be the primary point of contact for our Program Members, which consist of retired K-9 Heroes and their Handlers or owners. This role ensures the smooth delivery of care, including veterinary appointments, major and minor surgical procedures, emergency room visits, and diagnostic testing; the coordination of purchasing and the delivery of prescription medications, supplements, and food; and the managing of service documentation, and supporting all aspects of post-service wellness. The ideal candidate is a proactive communicator, independent problem-solver, and detail-oriented professional dedicated to our mission. You can read the full description and find out how to apply on our Facebook page.
We would also like to give a shout out to our sponsors and partners for their support of our mission.
Continue reading for all the news you need about our organization this month. And, as always, thank you for your support of our nation's retired working dogs.
SuperZoo with Redbarn
Several members of our team attended the SuperZoo conference in Las Vegas, NV this month, along with our partners at Redbarn Pet Products. Retired MWD Reno (#163) did a meet and greet to give people an opportunity to see firsthand the difference their support of our organization makes.
We spent some time making the acquaintances of new supporters and sponsors and meeting up with our valued partners, like Monster K-9 Dog Toys, Nulo, Paragon School of Pet Grooming, and many others. A special thank you to Red Barn Pet Products for inviting us to share their booth!
Congrats, Sheena Haller!
Please take a moment to help us congratulate Sheena Haller on her recent promotion to Vice President of Operations at Project K-9 Hero. She is celebrating seven years with our organization.
Sheena became the organization's very first paid employee on August 17th, 2018.
On top of managing day to day veterinary appointments, surgeries, prescriptions, and food deliveries of our current 153 living Program Members, Sheena has been instrumental in our growth and compliance with IRS regulations by managing all of our bookkeeping, Human Resources, and tax filings.
Congratulations, Sheena! We are all extremely proud of you.
Go, Sgt. Bo!
Congratulations to our very own Sgt. Bo, Project K-9 Hero Program Member #340, retired from the Metro Nashville Police Department. He is a well deserved finalist for the 2025 Therapy Dog of the Year with American Humane. This amazing Hero comforted countless children and staff members during 2023 Covenant School Shooting, and he continues to be there for them today, even after retirement!
We ask PK9H Supporters to help Sgt. Bo win this much deserved recognition by voting daily, now through September 15th.
2024 Annual Report -
Now Available!
We’re excited to share our 2024 Annual Report, packed with inspiring stories and clear insights into what your support has made possible this past year.
Inside, you'll find:
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The Class of 2024 New Program Members
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K-9 Hero Memorial
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2024 Financial Breakdowns
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Spotlight on our 2024 Volunteer of the Year
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Significant Medical Stories, Saved-from-Euthanasia Stories, and more!
Michigan War Dog Memorial
On Saturday, July 19, 2025, Project K-9 Hero National Ambassador, K-9 Yoube, was honored with a permanent headstone and ceremony by Michigan War Dog Memorial.
Yoube’s legacy is one of service, loyalty, and healing. We gathered to celebrate her impact, along with honoring PK9H Program Members K-9 Koda, and MWD RRoddie, with a headstone and special ceremony.
The Michigan War Dog Memorial, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public on the valor and service of K-9s who have served our nation and communities. Supporters can visit the memorial, located at 25805 Milford Rd, South Lyon, MI 48178.
Jodi Johnson Memorial Scholarships
Also on Saturday, July 19, 2025, Project K-9 Hero presented awards to six exceptional scholars: Brady Lane, Riley Porter, Joshua Cipielewski, Lilly Colley, Mya McKenna, and Baylee Osentoski.
The Jodi Johnson Memorial Scholarship was created to remember the life of our Founder's sister, Jodi. Jodi was a lifelong animal lover who was an outspoken supporter for our work at Project K-9 Hero. Each winner received a $1,000 award, paid directly to their educational institution of choice.
Applications for the awards will open again in spring of 2026.
Salute Series
Don't forget about the Service to America Salute™ Law Dogs™ Edition Whiskey featuring K-9 Flash, from Heritage Distilling Company, as part of the Salute Series.
Ten dollars from every bottle sold through the K-9 Flash Campaign will be donated to Project K-9 Hero, with a minimum goal of $25,000 donated by the end of 2025!
Please enjoy responsibly. Salute Series™ Service to America Salute ™: Law Dogs™ Edition fundraising whiskey is brought to you by Heritage Distilling Co. to honor and celebrate those who serve. " Available to ship nationwide to 45 states. Unfortunately, we CANNOT ship to AK, HI, MI, SD, UT. All purchases are made through Heritage Distilling Company. Must be 21 or older to purchase or consume alcohol.
Thank you to our amazing partners at Redbarn Premium Pet Products for this $10,000.00 donation to our organization! They presented it to us at Superzoo this month. In addition to this generous gift, they are currently feeding the dogs at our Rehabilitation & Rehoming Facility and are supporting a pilot project by sending food directly to homes of some of our Program Members.
We are honored to be working with such an outstanding organization and are grateful for their support of our K-9 Heroes!
Feeling hot this summer? This shirt will help!
It was made just for Project K-9 Hero by Nine Line Apparel and features the cartoon versions of some of our most well-known dogs - Flash, Axel, Yoube, Drax, Rip, Rosso, and Klara - printed all over this men's button down shirt.
There's a small PVC patch with our logo on the pocket so you can show your PK9H pride.
This shirt is made of 4 way stretch material with UPF 40+ and water resistant properties, to give you protection from the sun. Feel cool, look cool, help a K-9 Hero.
This August, when you buy any Nulo Pet Food product at Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply, you're giving back to our nation’s retired Police K-9s & Military Working Dogs.
Nulo is donating 10% of every purchase to Project K-9 Hero, helping provide medical care, rehabilitation, and a well-earned retirement for these four-legged Heroes. Feed your pet . Honor a Hero .
Find Nulo at your local Murdoch’s and make a difference, one bowl at a time.
Admitted to our program in July 2025, these dogs are now lifetime members of the Project K-9 Hero Pack and will receive full medical care for the duration of their lives from our organization, thanks to you!
Don't forget to check out our BLOG, where you can read about our Program Members as soon as they join!
WELCOME K-9 JACK
Program Member #344
Please welcome K-9 “Jack” (D597) to our Project K-9 Hero Pack as our 344th Program Member. Jack served as an Explosives Detection and Tracking K-9 with the Murfreesboro Police Department in Tennessee. Prior to working with the Police Department, Jack worked with Transportation Security Administration - TSA in Nevada, and started his training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.
Jack and his Handler are now both retired and enjoying life in the country on their farm. Please take a moment to welcome K-9 Jack to the PK9H Pack! We are honored to serve him after all he has done to protect the citizens of Tennessee, and the United States of America.
WELCOME MPC YARA
Program Member #345
On this 4th of July, we posthumously welcomed Multi-Purpose Canine (MPC) “YARA” (Y042) to our Project K-9 Hero Pack as our 345th Program Member. MPC Yara served for four years with the U.S. Army’s Special Operations Command (SOCOM), in the 3rd Special Forces Group.
This past June, Yara was diagnosed with late stage metastatic cancer that had spread from her liver and kidneys to her lungs. Her prognosis left little time for a successful series of treatments, and we made arrangements to place her in the PK9H Pack to make her life as comfortable as possible.
Unfortunately, on June 28th, MPC Yara settled at home with her family around her and passed away peacefully. She will be remembered in the memories of her family and her Green Beret teammates who returned home to their families due to her service. We are dedicated to honoring our commitment to her Handler and family by making her a Program Member as promised, and providing her end-of-duty services, which includes a custom memorial portrait.
WELCOME K-9 AXEL
Program Member #346
Please welcome K-9 “Axel” to the Project K-9 Hero Pack as our 346th Program Member. Axel honorably served with the Lapeer County Sheriff's Office, MI, from 2017 to 2025, as a Dual Purpose Patrol/Narcotics Detection K-9.
K-9 Axel is a 9-year-old German Shepherd who turns 10 on January 20th. K-9 Axel served his community for 8 years, specializing in conducting narcotics detection, suspect apprehension, handler protection, building searches, area searches, and tracking suspects.
WELCOME K-9 DIGO
Program Member #347
Please welcome K-9 “Digo" to our Project K-9 Hero Rehabilitation & Rehoming Facility. He received a “VIP Escort” via helicopter to our helipad. He did exceptionally well meeting with our staff.
Digo has had two separate careers in his life prior to coming to Project K-9 Hero. First, he honorably served with the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). There he worked with a Tier One Military Unit as a Multiple-Purpose Canine (MPC), specializing in Apprehension/Tracking Explosives Detection. He was specifically trained to save the lives of American Soldiers and seek out High-Value Targets worldwide. An in-the-line-of-duty injury caused him to need a hip replacement, and he was medically retired from the Army as a Multi-Purpose Canine due to the extreme physical demands and deployments of combat.
It is with sadness that we let you know we lost one Pack Member in July of 2025. We salute him for his service and will never forget his contributions to our country. You can read his full End of Watch post on our website.
MWD VVladimir
Program Member #298
It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share in the passing of retired Military Working Dog (MWD) VVladimir (T371) from health complications in Great Falls, Montana.
At 14 years old, VVladimir was proudly the #298th member of the Project K-9 Hero Pack. MWD VVladimir served as a Dual-Purpose Patrol/Explosives Detection K-9 with the United States Air Force for nine years, from 2011-2020.
MWD VVladimir distinguished himself by meritorious service as a Military Working Dog, assigned to the 9th Security Forces Squadron, 9th Mission Support Group, 9th Reconnoissance Wing, at Beale Air Force Base, California.
Please take a moment to say goodbye to this exceptional Military Working Dog, as it was our absolute honor to serve him. We at Project K-9 Hero will ensure that MWD VVladimir is never forgotten.
March 26th, 2011 - July 5th, 2025
