WELCOME K-9 BUSTER

Program Member #383

Please welcome retired K-9 “Buster” (W524) to the Project K-9 Hero Pack, as our 383rd Program Member.

K-9 Buster, who turned 13 years old on April 15th, 2026, is a male English Springer Spaniel, who honorably served with the Chicago Police Department, Mass Transit Unit, as an Explosives Detection Canine for 11 faithful years.

During his outstanding career, Buster conducted countless sweeps for large events in the City of Chicago, including the Democratic National Convention, NASCAR races, Lollapalooza, sporting events for the Chicago Bears, Cubs, Blackhawks, White Sox, and Bulls, concerts at Soldier Field, Wrigley Field, and the United Center, the NBA All-Star game, as well as protection details for State, Federal and International Delegates, to include the former United States President, Vice President, and First Lady.

WELCOME MPC THOR

Program Member #384

Please take a moment to welcome Multi-Purpose Canine (MPC) “Thor” in our Project K-9 Hero Pack as our 384th Program Member.

MPC Thor served with the U.S. Army’s 1st Ranger Battalion, in the elite 75th Ranger Regiment. Unfortunately, we lost him at the moment we were trying to save his life.

During his service, MPC Thor participated in five (5) combat deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Kurdistan. MPC Thor served with the utmost distinction during his career. Thor was trusted with leading platoons of Rangers to safely and assuredly accomplish their directed missions. With fierce tenacity, Thor enabled these missions by clearing buildings, apprehending fleeing enemy, and provided point security during multiple battle damage assessments. All of Thor’s noble actions mitigated risk to each and every Ranger on those missions.

WELCOME K-9 YCE

Program Member #385

Please welcome retired K-9 “Yce” to the Project K-9 Hero Pack as our 385th Program Member.

K-9 Yce is a 5 ½ year old male Dutch Shepherd who arrived in Michigan from the Netherlands, in the fall of 2021. K-9 Yce was trained in Patrol/Narcotics Detection at the Oakland Community College Patrol Dog Academy, and served the City of Flint Police Department from December of 2021, until the unexpected passing of his actively serving Handler placed him in early retirement in February of 2026 at no fault of his own.

K-9 Yce served the Flint Police Department with high drive and focus throughout his four plus years of service. K-9 Yce responded to over 300 calls for service, ranging from narcotics searches, tracking dangerous criminals, and locating felony suspects in buildings. K-9 Yce’s most memorable narcotics find happened during a search warrant on Flint’s Southside, when he alerted on a construction bucket which contained multiple kilos of fentanyl.

WELCOME K-9 CHILLY SKY

Program Member #386

Please welcome retired K-9 “Chilly Sky” to the Project K-9 Hero Pack, as our 386th Program Member.

K-9 Chilly Sky is a 10 year old female Labrador Retriever who honorably served with the Grafton West Virginia Volunteer Fire Department, and the FEMA Task Force Ohio Branch, as a Human Remains Detection Dog. During her career and deployments, Chilly had documented recoveries both on land and water.

Chilly physically collapsed this week while out of state, and her Handler rushed her to emergency vet in Dayton, Ohio. Her glucose dropped to dangerously low levels, and Chilly spent the night at the vet in Ohio to be monitored and to try and restore her glucose levels. When her Handler arrived at the vet that morning, they suggested having her put down. They said she would not survive the trip home back to West Virginia.

WELCOME MWD ROKY

Program Member #387

Please welcome retired United States Army Military Working Dog/Mine Detection Dog (MDD) “Roky” (Z278) to the Project K-9 Hero Pack, as our 387th Program Member.

MDD Roky is a 10 year old, male German Shepherd, who honorably served with the U.S. Army's Engineer Canine Company, 94th Engineer Detachment at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. The 94th Engineer Detachment, 5th Engineer Battalion, is the only combat engineer unit with mine detection and specialized search dogs. While the origins of the Army MWD Program can be traced back to World War II and again in Vietnam, the current Mine Detection Dog Program has only been around since 2005. The unit was reestablished for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom because of the influx of mines being used in combat.

MDDs proved their importance while deployed to either Iraq or Afghanistan. Whether it was finding an IED that was buried six-feet deep, performing casualty extraction missions, leading dismounted patrols and/or route-clearance missions, the MDDs never faulted. Their ability to find buried odor and land mines is something that cannot be duplicated.

MPC THOR

Program Member #384

MPC Thor served with the U.S. Army’s 1st Ranger Battalion, in the elite 75th Ranger Regiment. Unfortunately, we lost him at the moment we were trying to save his life.

During his service, MPC Thor participated in five (5) combat deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Kurdistan. MPC Thor served with the utmost distinction during his career. He was trusted with leading platoons of Rangers to safely and assuredly accomplish their directed missions. With fierce tenacity, Thor enabled these missions by clearing buildings, apprehending fleeing enemy, and provided point security during multiple battle damage assessments. All of Thor’s noble actions mitigated risk to each and every Ranger on those missions.

We at Project K-9 Hero regret we couldn’t save this Hero’s life to give him a few more years with his Handler and Family. We tried as hard as we could until there was nothing more we could do.

May 24th, 2016 - April 3rd, 2026

K-9 RICK

Program Member #186

It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share in the passing of Project K-9 Hero Pack Member #186, K-9 Rick, from cardiology issues and a stroke. He was retired from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina.

Rick served with extreme valor and distinction as a Dual-Purpose Patrol/Narcotics Detection K-9, until a history of aggression towards his handlers during times of high stress forced him into retirement. He came to our PK9H Rehabilitation and Rehoming Facility in the summer of 2022, where he excelled with our staff, and was adopted by Charles and Wendy Long, a first responder family, who gave him the absolutely best life possible for over the last three years.

We want to specifically thank the K-9 Unit of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office for trusting our organization with the retirement and care of K-9 Rick. Most importantly, to Charles and Wendy who loved Rick unconditionally, our hearts and thoughts are with both of you today. Rest in Peace K-9 Rick, it was an honor to serve you!

November 3rd, 2013 - April 9th, 2026

K-9 BEAR

Program Member #379

It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share in the unexpected passing of Project K-9 Hero Program Member #379, K-9 Bear, from the Hickory Creek Police Department, in Texas, from unforeseen and untreatable medical complications that were unrelated to the cancer diagnosis we had been helping him fight.

As a Medal Winner for the K-9 Games, run by Project K-9 Hero at the 2025 World Police and Fire Games, K-9 Bear earned immediate placement into our Pack after his service was complete. On March 2nd, 2026, K-9 Bear was forced into medical retirement because of a cancer diagnosis, on which we spent over $14k to save his life in early 2026.

On April 10th, Bear was rushed back into the ER showing signs of Leptospirosis, and we immediately approved an estimate of $6,933.72 to attempt to save his life one more time. Unfortunately, Bear was unable to pull through and passed away peacefully in the presence of his Handler and Family.

K-9 Bear served as a Dual-Purpose Patrol/Narcotics Detection K-9, and in over his five years of service, K-9 Bear had 832 deployments, in which 2,380lbs of illegal substances were found, that have led to dozens of federal and state prosecutions. K-9 Bear had located two missing children, and found one elderly person with dementia, all while also capturing dozens of criminals for local, state, and federal agencies.

Please take a moment to remember K-9 Bear as the Hero he was, and keep his Handler and Family in your thoughts and hearts! PK9H was honored to serve you “Bear” after all you have done to protect the State of Texas and surrounding communities.

January 15th, 2019 - April 11th, 2026

K-9 FURY

Program Member #369

It is with extreme sadness that we at Project K-9 Hero report the passing of K-9 “Fury,” our 369th Program Member, from medical complications. Fury honorably served at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department from 2016 to 2024, as a Narcotics Detection K-9, assigned to the Detective Division, at their Narcotics Bureau Headquarters.

K-9 Fury was a 10-year old German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix that spent eight years serving Los Angeles County, helping keep their citizens and visitors safe from dangerous criminals and illegal drugs.

Once Fury was retired, his medical care was no longer covered by those he served, causing an extreme financial hardship on his retired Handler. In November of 2025, Fury required emergency bloat surgery (gastric torsion) in order to save his life. In addition, due to the severity and contortion of his stomach, which had twisted his spleen, he also needed a splenectomy. Between the preliminary visit to his primary veterinarian for pre-surgery emergency prep/medication, then transportation to the surgical hospital for emergency surgery, and three days of post-op care, and subsequent medications, total out of pocket expenses were approximately $17,500.00 which the Handler had to place on his credit card.

As soon as we placed Fury in our program on December 31st, 2025, our PK9H Staff was able to reverse the entire amout of $17,500 off of the Handler’s personal credit card, and on to our Project K-9 Hero card. In addition to paying for those costs, we decided to step up immediately and pay for Fury’s medical care, medication, prescription food, diagnostic testing, and any more surgeries that may be necessary at 100% for the rest of his life.

We were honored as a national nonprofit organization to pay $22,585.90, in the last four months, to give his Handler more time with his partner. We only wish we could have done more. Please take a moment to remember K-9 Fury and keep his Handler and his Family in your thoughts and hearts!

October 9th, 2015 - April 12th, 2026

K-9 JIMMY M168

Program Member #324

It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share in the passing of Project K-9 Hero Program Member #324, K-9 “Jimmy,”  from health complications, peacefully at home in the presence of his Handler and Family. Jimmy honorably served with the Louisiana State Police Emergency Services Unit from 2014 to 2024, as an Explosives Detection K-9.

K-9 Jimmy, was a 13-year-old Labrador Retriever, that spent 10 years serving the State of Louisiana. Throughout his career, K-9 Jimmy performed over 730 explosive detection sweeps. His missions included high-profile events for the New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Pelicans, Tulane University Football, and numerous concerts and public demonstrations. K-9 Jimmy also provided protection during visits from the President of the United States.

K-9 Jimmy participated in several detection competitions, achieving several top three finishes. Notably, he secured first place "Top Dog" at the 2018 United States Police Canine Association Region 10 Trials, and third place in 2019.

Once Jimmy retired, his medical care was no longer covered, thus, causing an extreme financial hardship on his Handler who was also fully retired from Law Enforcement. Jimmy had a tumor on his left rear foot that needed immediate removal, but he was considered to be high-risk due to Mitral Valve Disease with his heart, and he couldn’t locate a surgeon in his home state to perform the procedure. We worked directly with our PK9H Executive Board Member, and Oncology Consultant, Dr. Melissa Parsons-Doherty, DVM/DACVIM, and her clinic, the Animal Cancer and Referral Center in Woodlands, Texas to get his tumor removed, and give Jimmy many more months to live out his retirement.

We at PK9H were proud to serve Jimmy after his faithful service, and give him the extra time with his Handler. Please take a moment to remember K-9 Jimmy, and we are honored to Protect him after all he had done to Protect his community, the State of Louisiana, and the United States of America!

February 13th, 2013 - April 17th, 2026

K-9 ARECK Z367

Program Member #336

It is with an extremely heavy heart  that we share in the passing of K-9 “Areck” (Z367), PK9H #336, who was our very first Pack Member from Puerto Rico!

K-9 Areck was a male German Shepherd who honorably served from November 2017 to June 2022, with the Department of Homeland Security/ Transportation Security Administration - TSA. K-9 Areck was an exceptional Explosives Detection Canine and performed his duties with distinction at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Throughout his career, Areck was actively involved in community outreach initiatives across the island, educating college students on the decoy program and recruiting volunteers for training exercises. He also participated in multi agency training sessions with the U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Security Protective Services, FBI, and local law enforcement, enhancing interagency collaboration and preparedness. In 2022, Areck was selected for a high-profile security detail at Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles, underscoring his capabilities and reliability. This assignment garnered local media attention, further highlighting the importance of explosives detection canines in maintaining public safety.

Please take a moment to remember K-9 Areck as the Hero that he was, and our very first working dog inducted from Puerto Rico. We were honored to serve and Protect him, after all he had done to Protect our country!

January 10th, 2016 - April 21st, 2026

K-9 MAJLO

Program Member #213

It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share in the passing of Project K-9 Hero Pack Member #213, K-9 Majlo, from the State of Connecticut Department of Corrections, due to health complications.

Majlo served as a Dual-Purpose Patrol/Narcotics Detection K-9, and was a graduate of the Connecticut  State Police K-9 Patrol Academy, as well as the Connecticut State Police K-9 Narcotics Academy. After a successful start to his career with Narcotic finds in halfway houses throughout the State, Majlo was unable to continue serving due to his ongoing health issues.

K-9 Majlo was medically retired in June of 2022, just shy of his 4th birthday, after being diagnosed with severe anxiety, a stress disorder, and clostridium perfringens. His Handler was issued a new K-9 partner to replace Majlo, as his medical condition would not allow him to work any longer.

Majlo was rehomed with a close family friend to make room for the new partner, and they then became financially responsible for Majlo’s medication and his special prescribed diet.

We at Project K-9 Hero were honored to serve Majlo for over three years in retirement with medical care. Please take a moment to remember K-9 Majlo for the Hero he was, and as our very first recipient from the State of Connecticut. We at PK9H will ensure K-9 Majlo is Never Forgotten!

July 22nd, 2018 - April 25th, 2026