Please Welcome K-9 Claudette #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 a Explosive 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.
K-9 Claudette participated in over 500 high-profile investigations, mass casualty incidents, national special events, dignitary protective details (to include U.S. Presidents, Supreme Court Justices, Governors nationwide, and International Dignitaries), and explosive incidents throughout her career.
K-9 Claudette had over 115 significant finds/recoveries to include: a machine gun hidden inside a wall, buried firearms, ballistic evidence at a major mass casualty school shooting and officer involved shootings, critical minute, post-blast evidence in bombing investigations, hidden compartments and firearms in vehicles of traffickers, firearms and explosives hidden underneath residences/structures, ballistic evidence located and recovered in a two-week old structure fire scene, thousands of live rounds of ammunition, and spent casings and firearms that resulted in NIBIN (National Integrated Ballistic Information Network) hits that led to the successful prosecution of homicide suspects.
Dozens of violent criminals were successfully prosecuted due to the firearm and ballistic evidence that only K-9 Claudette was able to detect and locate. K-9 Claudette's deployments and recoveries are many, but more importantly, her role in the San Antonio and surrounding area had become a critical component in the Law Enforcement response throughout the community, which many state, local, and federal agencies relied upon heavily.
K-9 Claudette was exposed to the Chagas Virus during deployment as a Search Enhanced Evidence K-9. It is transmitted by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It primarily affects the heart and can lead to sudden death, without showing any symptoms or signs. Sadly, K-9 Claudette tested positive for Chagas during her exit physical exam and, per her veterinary team, will likely require the treatment, therapy, and recovery for the virus and the supplements to maintain her immune system and heart health. These treatments and supplements vary in cost and duration, depending on how the canine immune system responds, so expense may vary greatly.
However, now that Claudette is officially retired, as of October 1st, 2025, her medical care is no longer covered by the government, regardless of how many lives she has helped save. We understand that the cost of veterinary care is expensive, especially for an actively serving Federal K-9 Handler. The very last thing we at Project K-9 Hero want to see is Claudette go without the assistance she needs just because her bills were not affordable. Therefore, we were honored to step up and pay for Claudette’s medical care, frequent office visits, treatment, therapy, necessary prescription medication or supplements, and any future diagnostic testing, or surgeries she may need for the rest of her life at 100%.
Please take a moment to welcome K-9 Claudette as our 371st Pack Member. We are honored to be protecting her, after all that she has done to protect the City of San Antonio, the State of Texas, and the United States of America!
Our Medical Fund will help ensure that we always have funding for Heroes like Claudette. Please donate today to continue supporting our life-saving abilities.
