Happy New Year!
We are thrilled to announce that we are starting out 2025 in the strongest financial position of our history, all thanks to our phenomenal supporters. Your support throughout 2024 and all of the years prior has given us the momentum to keep growing so no retired K-9 Hero ever left wanting in their retirement.
We far exceeded our initial end-of-year goal of $75,000 and ended 2024 with $135,327! K-9 Yoube, our third National Ambassador, reached her End of Watch right in the middle of the goal she was working so hard to achieve, and we know she would have been smiling with pride right now at the success. We miss her very much and our office isn't the same without her.
Please keep reading to see what we have in store for this month and beyond, including our 4th Annual Performers for Paws fundraiser concert (January 30th), Murdoch's "Round Up" at the register (now through February 4th,) and the release of our very first issue of Unleashed, our new magazine.
Thank you for all you do to help protect those who protected us!
Unleashed:
The Magazine
We are proud to tell you that the very first issue of Unleashed, a magazine about our organization and the K-9s it assists, is about to drop. They'll be available for $5 in our online shop starting in early February, or you can pick up a copy if you find us at a local event.
This issue is a double feature and includes our full 2023 Annual Report. We can't wait to see what you think!
Thanks to Our Sponsor:
Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply
We are excited to announce that Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply has once again chosen us as their "Round Up" recipient. Now through February 4th, 2025, you can "Round Up" at the register at any Murdoch's store to make a donation for our nation's retired K-9 Heroes.
Please come out and support this great American company and round up at the register to assist in our mission at all of their locations, which is over 45 stores, throughout seven states. Find your nearest location at: https://www.murdochs.com/stores/
Tickets Available!
Join us in Nashville, TN for our 4th Annual Performers for Paws country music fundraiser, sponsored by PetSafe®, one of the largest pet brands in the world.
There will be special appearances from some of our K-9 Heroes, amazing live music, and food!
Take part in a Live and Silent Auction, both filled with exciting items donated in support of our mission, including autographed sports memorabilia, unique experiences, and more!
Are You Getting Our Emails?
New webmail rules are making it more difficult than ever to get into your inbox. In order to be compliant, we are updating the way our news is delivered to you. To make sure you don't miss any of our emails, please make sure to whitelist projectk9hero.org, as well as donor.projectk9hero.org, shop.projectk9hero.org, and hello.projectk9hero.org. We appreciate you!
Ornament Sale!
We still have some ornaments left, featuring our second National Ambassador, K-9 Axel.
They are now discounted to 50% off. They'll never be made again, so get one now and help support our organization while making your holidays shine!
Admitted to our program in December 2024, 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 ZEUS
Program Member #313
Please welcome K-9 “Zeus” to the Project K-9 Hero Pack, as our 313th Program Member. Zeus honorably served at the Carbon County, Wyoming Sheriff’s Office, from 2018 to 2024, as a Dual-Purpose Patrol/Narcotics Detection K-9.
K-9 Zeus is an eight-year-old German Shepherd, that spent five years serving the State of Wyoming helping keep their citizens safe from dangerous criminals. Throughout his career, Zeus participated over 90 deployments resulting in numerous felony seizures of illegal drugs. Zeus also responded to calls for service while on patrol, and participated in community demonstrations for schools, youth programs, and public relations events.
WELCOME K-9 GHOST
Program Member #310
Please welcome K-9 Ghost as our 310th Program Member inducted into our Project K-9 Hero Pack. Ghost bravely served as a Dual-Purpose Patrol/Narcotics Detection K-9, from 2016 through 2023, with Goldsboro Police Department, in North Carolina.
During his seven years of service, K-9 Ghost was responsible for hundreds of narcotic finds that led to arrest or seizure. K-9 Ghost also assisted multiple local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies with the service of search warrants including the apprehension of violent criminals.
WELCOME MWD LUDJO (Z251)
Program Member #311
Please welcome retired Military Working Dog (MWD), United States Marine Corps, Combat Tracking Dog (CTD) "Ludjo" (Z251) to our Project K-9 Hero Pack as our 311th Program Member!
MWD Ludjo served with honorable distinction for five years in the United States Marine Corps as a certified Combat Tracker Dog stationed in Okinawa, Japan, with the USMC’s 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion. In addition to his patrol duties, MWD Ludjo participated in multiple real world scenarios to assist Survival Evasion Resistance Escape (SERE) for Fighter Jet Pilots while in forward deployed in Asia.
WELCOME K-9 KANE
Program Member #316
Please welcome K-9 “Kane” to the Project K-9 Hero Pack, as our 316th Program Member. Kane honorably served at the San Leandro Police Department, from 2020 to 2022, as a Dual-Purpose Patrol/Narcotics Detection K-9.
Kane and his Handler were involved in an OIS (Officer Involved Shooting) while Kane was just on his third day of patrol, after graduating K-9 School and certifying. Kane’s Handler stated, “I should have been killed, and it was through this shared experience that we found a way forward. While I was on leave, training with Kane became a form of regulation for me—a modality that helped me navigate an incredibly challenging period in my life.” Kane also suffered from multiple Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) Symptoms and extreme Separation Anxiety from his Handler.
WELCOME K-9 CAMDEN
Program Member #317
Please welcome K-9 “Camden” to our Project K-9 Hero Pack as our 317th program member. Camden served as an ATF Certified Accelerant Detection Canine with Union County Emergency Services, in North Carolina, from December of 2016 until January of 2024.
Camden was deployed and worked at over 500 fire scenes throughout the Southeastern United States during his career, to include North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia. K-9 Camden was also deployed for seven ATF National Response Team (NRT) activations. One of those NRT activations was during the QVC warehouse fire that occurred in December of 2022. This fire is the largest in the history of the State of NC and resulted in one death.
We are saddened to tell you that three of our Program Members reached their End of Watch in December of 2024. We were honored to serve them. You can read their full End of Watch post on our website.
K-9 Yoube
Program Member #107
It is with great sorrow that we share the passing of K-9 Yoube, our third National Ambassador and friend to all.
July 7th, 2013 - December 13th, 2024
K-9 Randi
Program Member #136
It is with sadness that we share the passing of PK9H #136, K-9 Randi, after complications with health and age. Randi honorably and faithfully served as an Explosives Detection Canine for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in the Denver Field Office, from 2013-2020.
August 23rd, 2012 - December 17th, 2024
K-9 Chief
Program Member #175
It is with an extremely heavy heart that we announce the passing of Project K-9 Hero Program Member #175, K-9 Chief. He passed away with dignity and honor after battling cancer that finally caught up to him.
May 1st, 2012 - December 26th, 2024
K-9 Grim
Program Member #159
On the eve of Thanksgiving, we received news from K-9 Grim’s Handler that he was rushed to the ER where fluid was discovered around his heart and lungs. We worked with the staff at the ER, and his Handler, to assist in any way possible and cover all associated costs. Unfortunately, there was nothing more anyone could do that night, and we regret to inform everyone we lost Project K-9 Hero #159 to complications of Lung Cancer.
February 26th, 2019 - November 27th, 2024
