5th Annual Performers for Paws Success!
We are so grateful for everyone who came out to make Performers for Paws 2026, presented by RedBarn, a great success! We are thrilled to announce that we raised over $500,000 for our K-9 Heroes, more than triple last year's numbers.
A heartfelt thank you to the performers who generously donated their time, the sponsors who helped raise critical funds and amplify our mission, and the attendees and donors who showed up to enjoy the music and participate in our auctions.
We'd also like to take a moment to acknowledge our Volunteer of the Year for 2025, Chris Bingham. His dedication throughout the year was an inspiration to all of us, and we were delighted to honor him alongside his dog, K-9 Tambo, Program Member #203.
The date of our next Performers for Paws has been set for February 25, 2027. Save the date!
As always, we are grateful to have you in our Pack! Keep reading for more K-9 Hero news.
The Jodi Johnson Memorial Scholarship
The Jodi Johnson Memorial Scholarship was created to remember the life of our founder's sister. Jodi was a smart and outgoing woman who excelled in athletics, academics, music, and community involvement. Jodi was also a lifelong animal lover who was an outspoken supporter for our work at Project K-9 Hero. Each winner will receive a $1,000 award, paid directly to their educational institution of choice.
2026 APPLICATION PERIOD: February 1st - May 15th, 2026
MWD Penge (A160) Arrives from Japan
Retired United States Air Force, MWD Penge (A160), came to our PK9H facility at the moment all the way from Japan . We were notified by his leadership that, “If we cannot find an opportunity for him, the only other option is to be humanely euthanized with our U.S. Army Veterinarian Clinic here on island, which are trying our absolute best to avoid. Please help us give Penge the retirement life he deserves after his years of dedicated service to our nation’s military and his former handlers.”
He arrived on February 17th. We are excited to be saving the life of another K-9 Hero!
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PROJECT K-9 HERO Velveteen Plush Blanket by New South Trading Co.
Wrap yourself in comfort while supporting a cause that matters. New South Trading Co.'s Project K-9 Hero Give-Back Blanket was created to honor the working dogs who served our nation and now deserve care in retirement. This velvety plush blanket showcases a bold, patriotic design with the Project K-9 Hero emblem over a distressed American flag.
By choosing this give-back item, you help ensure these K-9s receive the ongoing support they need after a lifetime of service.
NEW: K-9 Hero Sticker Packs
Show your support for America’s retired K-9 Heroes with this exclusive Project K-9 Hero Sticker Pack! Featuring five unique designs, this limited-edition set celebrates the courage, loyalty, and sacrifice of our nation’s working dogs and the mission to give them the retirement they deserve.
Includes:
• 5 high-quality vinyl stickers (assorted designs)
• Durable, waterproof, and a unique frosted, textured, UV-resistant finish
• Made in the USA
• A portion of proceeds supports Project K-9 Hero’s mission to care for retired Military Working Dogs and Police K-9s in our program
RedBarn Pet Products
Thank you to Redbarn, our Title Sponsor for Performers for Paws 2026 and a steadfast long-term partner in our mission.
Their generosity touches every corner of Project K-9 Hero, from donating food by the pallet for the dogs living at our Rehabilitation & Rehoming Facility, to autoshipping nutrition directly to the homes of 16 of our Program Members.
This year alone, Redbarn provided over 100 goodie boxes to our retired K-9 Heroes, and their nationwide campaign donating $5 from every 22–28 lb bag sold in November made an incredible impact to our cause. Redbarn's support ensures our K-9 Heroes receive the care, comfort, and compassion they deserve, and we are deeply grateful for their commitment to those who once protected us all.
We were honored to have them as our Title Sponsor for our 5th Annual Performers for Paws and look forward to their continued support throughout 2026!
PET MATRX
If you shop at PET MATRX from now until the end of March, 10% of all sales come back to PK9H and our retired working dogs.
Use code K9HERO to let them know you support our organization!
SUMMIT ANIMAL HEALTH
We’ve partnered with Summit Animal Health to bring you trusted health products for your furry companions. When you shop using our affiliate link, 30% of your purchase goes directly to support Project K-9 Hero, at no extra cost to you. Plus, you enjoy 20% off your order with coupon code PK9H20.
Admitted to our program in January 2026, 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 PISTOL
Program Member #370
Please welcome retired K-9 “Pistol” to the Project K-9 Hero Pack as our 370th Program Member!
K-9 Pistol is a nine-year-old female Belgian Malinois who honorably served with the US Border Patrol for seven years, from 2017 - 2024. K-9 Pistol is a Narcotics Detection Dog that started her career in Rochester, NY, and completed that last few years of her service in Detroit, MI.
During her career, Pistol alerted to, located, and seized over five million dollars of illegal narcotics attempting to enter our borders, along with illegal firearms, and over six figures in currency. Pistol specialized in searching parcels, packages, and containers attempting to enter the United States.
WELCOME K-9 CLAUDETTE
Program Member #371
Please take a moment to welcome K-9 Claudette into Project K-9 Hero as the 371st Program Member of our Pack!
K-9 Claudette honorably served for six years, from 2019-2025, as an Explosives Detection Canine (EDC) under the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Search Enhanced Evidence K-9 (S.E.E.K.) program.
K-9 Claudette served as one of only 40 Search Enhanced Evidence K-9s nationwide, and her primary area of responsibility covered 51 counties in the State of Texas. However, throughout her career she was deployed nationwide for Investigative Operations and Special Events from coast to coast.
WELCOME MWD POCOK (C440)
Program Member #372
Please take a moment to welcome retired United States Air Force, Military Working Dog “Pocok” (C440), as the 372nd member to our Project K-9 Hero Pack!
MWD Pocok honorably served with the 341st Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, from May of 2020 until July of 2023. A severe back injury while conducting apprehension work led Pocok to an early medical retirement and the need to be adopted.
Pocok was extremely lucky to be adopted by Dr. Shirley Meredith (who previously had adopted MWD Uumbro, PK9H #144) and had been living a wonderful life with her in Kentucky, until Shirley reached out to our organization on Monday 1/12 with an emergency medical situation with symptoms that required an immediate visit to MedVet Cincinnati.
WELCOME K-9 JANGO
Program Member #373
Please take a moment to honor K-9 “Jango” as our 373rd Program Member.
K-9 Jango was a 3-year-old male Belgian Malinois who honorably served with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office for 1.5 years as a Patrol K-9, until an on-duty incident in November of 2025 left him paralyzed and unable to breathe on his own.
During his short but productive career, K-9 Jango was deployed twenty times, and was responsible for eleven criminal finds, as well as one physical bite apprehension. K-9 Jango worked with Spokane County’s SWAT Team, where he specialized in High-Risk Tactical Operations, Search Warrants, Building Searches, Rappelling, plus Helicopter Operations and Hoisting.
Jango lost his fight with his injuries on January 28th.
It is with sadness that we let you know we lost three Pack Members in January of 2026. We salute them for their service and will never forget their contributions to our country. You can read their full End of Watch post on our website to understand their full impacts on our communities and our country.
K-9 Rip
Program Member #161
It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share in the passing of Project K-9 Hero Program Member #161, K-9 Rip.
Please take a moment to read this passage from Amanda Bolyard, who did an amazing job caring for him during his four years of retirement from the ATF Special Response Team Three:
“Losing you hurts more than I ever imagined. I was fortunate enough to receive Retired K9 Rip, Project K-9 Hero member #161, the day he retired and we were blessed with just over four years together. Before coming home to me, Rip honorably served as part of ATF SRT Team 3, completing more than 300 high-risk missions nationwide alongside his handler. I am deeply grateful to his handler for trusting me with Rip and allowing me the opportunity to care for him in his retirement. I was the lucky one who got to serve him—an honor I will never take lightly.
He became my sidekick, my constant presence, and I can’t imagine my life without having had the opportunity to love him for those years and beyond. Our bond was unique and different. It took time for us to truly find our way together, but once we did, he was my loyal friend through and through.
I love you, Rippy. I hope to see that wagging tail again one day. Run free my friend.”
June 2nd, 2010 - January 3rd, 2026
K-9 Klara
Program Member #131
It is with an extremely heavy heart that we at Project K-9 Hero share in the passing of Program Member #131, K-9 Klara. Klara came to our Rehabilitation & Rehoming Facility on June 1st, 2021, and has been in our program as an Ambassador for last 4 1/2 years.
She spent the first two of those years living here at our facility with Marine Corps and Law Enforcement Veteran, John Guthrie, who was our VP of Operations at the time. Once John took a position to work globally and moved closer to Nashville, Klara stayed with him for the next several years. Klara was 13 1/2 years old, and was loved very much by everyone that knew her! Please keep John and his family in your thoughts as they mourn the loss of their Hero.
After serving for six years with the Wilson Police Department, and the Carter County Sheriff’s Office, in Oklahoma, as a Dual-Purpose Patrol/Narcotics Detection K-9, at no fault of her own, Klara needed a new home.
Due to family and financial changes in the life of her Handler, Klara was unable to receive the time, attention, or care that she deserved in retirement. Knowing that Klara had a big heart and loved being around people, he contacted our organization and asked for assistance through our Project K-9 Hero Rehabilitation & Rehoming Facility.
Thank you for your service to your community and the State of Oklahoma, Klara. We will ensure that you are Never Forgotten!
June 11th, 2012 - January 7th, 2026
K-9 Jango
Program Member #373
It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share in the passing of Project K-9 Hero Program Member #373, K-9 “Jango.”
K-9 Jango, was a 3-year-old male Belgian Malinois who honorably served with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office for 1.5 years as a Patrol K-9, until an on-duty incident in November of 2025 left him paralyzed and unable to breathe on his own.
During his short but productive career, K-9 Jango was deployed twenty times, and was responsible for eleven criminal finds, as well as one physical bite apprehension. K-9 Jango worked with Spokane County’s SWAT Team, where he specialized in High-Risk Tactical Operations, Search Warrants, Building Searches, Rappelling, plus Helicopter Operations and Hoisting.
On the night of his career ending injury, Jango ran thru a commercial grade double pane glass window in the dark, which left him unconscious and unable to breathe. The handler performed CPR on the scene, and all the way to the ER, in an attempt to save his partner’s life. Once they arrived, and they were able to get Jango stable, the ER Veterinary Staff immediately got him intubated, where a tube was placed in his trachea (windpipe) to maintain an open airway for delivering the oxygen he needed to survive.
PK9H was able to step up and pay the approximately $150 a day for the rehabilitation process while Jango fought for his life. That included the supplies needed, tubing, physical therapy, and 24 hour veterinary care from his doctor.
Please take a moment to mourn in the loss of K-9 Jango. We were honored to be protecting him, after all that he had been through fighting for his life, after protecting our communities and nation.
July 6th, 2022- January 28th, 2026
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