OUR MISSION

To serve those who protected our families, our communities, and our America.

OUR VISION

At Project K-9 Hero, our vision is to honor the unwavering dedication of retired Police K-9s and Military Working Dogs by creating a global environment that celebrates their heroic service. We strive to reshape perceptions, ensuring these valiant animals are revered and respected for their loyalty. Through our efforts, we aim to provide these remarkable companions with the dignified post-service life they rightfully deserve, offering access to comprehensive healthcare and advocating for a quality way of life in recognition of their selfless contributions.

OUR PURPOSE

To ensure the best quality of life for our nation’s retired Police K-9s and Military Working Dogs by providing assistance with medical costs, prescription food, rehabilitation, rehoming, and end-of-duty services.

To educate the public, government agencies, and elected officials on the costs and responsibilities of owning a retired K-9 Hero.

To provide a safe haven at our 177-acre Rehabilitation & Rehoming Facility for retired K-9 Heroes to live when they no longer have a home or an owner that can meet their specialized needs.

K-9 Heroes are worked until they can no longer perform their duties due to health reasons or age limitations. In almost all instances, the responsibility of caring for the retired Hero falls solely on handlers/adopters. In their retirement, K-9 Heroes need our help the most to make sure they can live a comfortable and enjoyable life for as long as possible.

Retired Police K-9s and Military Working Dogs accepted as Program Members will:

• have all medical costs covered. This includes monthly prescriptions, necessary surgeries and procedures, wellness, and emergency care.

• have their prescription food costs covered and shipped directly to the owner’s residence.

• receive End of Watch benefits, which include cremation or burial, and a custom portrait by staff artist Niki Firmin.

  
  

This is all made possible through donations from supporters like you.

K-9s accepted into our program will be selected by our existing Executive Board of Directors. Owners of retired K-9s may submit an application, a biography of the K-9’s career, and several photos of the K-9 working and at home. Each application will be reviewed thoroughly and a retired K-9 will be accepted into the program based on the severity of the financial burden to the owner and special medical needs of the dog.

If you would like to apply to have your Retired K-9 Hero considered for admission into our program, please fill out our medical assistance application.

If your K-9 Hero is in need of a new home and you want it to be considered for admission into our 177-acre facility in Tennessee, please fill out our Rehabilitation & Rehoming application.

Jason Johnson has a passion for Police K-9s and Military Working Dogs, as he has dedicated his life to handling, training, and taking care of them. Jason believes that our nation’s working dogs perform selflessly for the departments and agencies they work for, and that once they retire, are not offered that same respect by those they served. It is Jason’s goal to educate the public on the costs and responsibilities of adopting a retired Hero and to ensure that every Police K-9 and Military Working Dog in the world has their medical, food, and end-of-duty costs taken care of for them so they can enjoy the healthy and happy retirements that they deserve.

After volunteering his time for three years at the inception of the organization, Jason now acts as the CEO of Project K-9 Hero. Jason is also the CEO of HaloLights, K-9 Solutions International (K-9SI), and Blackbird Armament where he manages domestic and international contracts, training, and consulting services with civilian and government agencies worldwide.

Before he founded Project K-9 Hero, Jason served as a Field Canine Coordinator for the Department of Homeland Security, where he provided program oversight and subject matter expertise to law enforcement and federal canine teams nationwide. Prior to that, Jason was a K-9 Trainer/Instructor and Course Developer for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). He planned, developed, and was the Lead Instructor for Explosive Detection Courses to domestic and international federal agents, law enforcement, and military.

He has trained, instructed, and certified students in dozens of federal agencies globally, as well as a multitude of other state and local departments in the United States. He worked directly with the Pentagon’s Military Working Dog (MWD) program, providing Home-Made Explosives training to over 1,000 MWDs prior to their deployment to the Middle East, and was also involved in developing and instructing the ATF’s first SRT (Special Response Team) Dual-Purpose Patrol/Explosives Detection Canine, and their off-leash SEEK (Search Enhanced Evidence K-9) Program.

Prior to working for the ATF, Jason served as an Explosives Detection K-9 Handler, Trainer, Kennel Master, and Protective Security Specialist for the U.S. Department of State in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jason also served as a Police Officer for the City of Yakima, WA, and the City of Puyallup, WA. During that time, he specialized as a K-9 Handler, SWAT Officer, and K-9 Trainer/Certifying Official with the Washington State Police Canine Association. 

Jason honorably served in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer and is a proud Veteran. He holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science from Bellevue University in Security Management. Jason has also written two children’s books about his inspiration to start this organization, titled “K-9 Flash Becomes A Hero,” and “K-9 Flash: A Hero’s Hero."  His K-9 partner, “Flash” was named the Law Enforcement Dog of the Year in the country by American Humane in 2018.

Jason is a former Master’s Course University Instructor, a published Academic Author, and an Executive Producer of television and film, all related to the K-9 profession. Jason actively works with Congress in Washington D.C. to see that his vision of the K-9 Hero Act gets passed as a law to bring a positive legislative change to the K-9 Community for generations to follow.