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OUR MEDICAL FUND SAVES LIVES
K-9 Tambo's Ongoing Battle
K-9 Tambo served our nation with distinction as an Explosives Detection K-9 within the Department of Defense Intelligence Community. His work included securing high-profile events such as the Presidential Inauguration, as well as providing protection at major venues throughout the Washington, D.C. area.
In 2022, Tambo was medically retired due to a severe injury to his right carpus, resulting in torn ligaments that continue to impact his mobility and may require future surgical intervention.
Since entering the Project K-9 Hero program, Tambo’s medical needs have remained significant. In 2025, he required emergency, life-saving surgery for a ruptured splenic mass. To date, his care has totaled $27,849.16, and ongoing monitoring remains critical following recent oncology evaluations. While his latest recheck brought encouraging news, new findings require continued observation and treatment.
With your support, Project K-9 Hero can continue covering 100% of Tambo’s medical care for life, ensuring this Hero receives the protection he earned through years of service.
An emergency medical crisis for one of our K-9 Heroes can easily pass $10,000 in an instant. With more than 373 Program Members depending on us, readiness isn’t optional; it’s lifesaving.
A gift to the Medical Fund ensures critical care is available the moment it’s needed. Every contribution helps protect the Heroes who spent their careers protecting us.
Thank you for giving them the care, dignity, and second chances they’ve earned.
K-9 Benefits for All Program Members
All Medical Costs & Prescription Food Covered
Every K-9 Hero in our program has their medical, prescription food, and end-of-duty services costs covered by us for the rest of their lives. This amounts to an average of $4,000 per year per member, but that's just an average. Many of our dogs have special medical needs brought on by the rigors of their training and service to our country, so their medical costs are far more each month. And we often cover $10,000 medical bills for emergencies like the story you read about above.
Rehabilitation & Rehoming Facility
In addition to the hundreds of dogs in our program who still live with their families and handlers, we also house several Heroes at our Whitwell, TN Rehab and Rehoming Facility. Some of them are there temporarily, some of them will remain with us for life. All of them require the same costly medical care that our regular Program Members need, but also require specialized staff and trainers to meet the very special needs each one of them has due to their service.
End-of-duty Services
With great sadness, we realize that every Hero's watch will come to an end. We make sure that each dog in our program has those costs covered, as well, so that their families can focus on themselves and their grief rather than the costs that come with euthanasia and burial services. Although a K-9 Hero's passing is never easy, we do what we can to bring comfort to our Heroes and their families when the time comes.
WE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU
Your support is the only way that we can continue our work. You are the reason these K-9 Heroes can retire in comfort, with dignity and medical coverage.
Will you help?
K-9 Luna Needed $18,000 of Emergency Care
Luna is a nine year old Belgian Malinois from Holland that was a graduate of the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) National Explosive Detection Canine Program. Luna was stationed at U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) Seattle. Luna routinely patrolled the expansive Washington State Ferry system in the Puget Sound area, conducting sweeps of hundreds of vehicles per day for vehicle-borne explosive devices.
One day, Luna began to show signs of distress. Doctors discovered an obstruction in her gastrointestinal tract. The surgery was in a high-risk category because of Luna’s developing pneumonia, high blood pressure, and other physiological risks. Her surgery required close-monitoring and precision in order to not further complicate her ailed state. Her medical fees began to add up, and her handler Elliott was unable to shoulder their burden without our financial assistance. Today, Luna is happy and well, thanks to the medical care she received. And now she's enjoying her much-deserved retirement!
MWD RRoddie Needed Monthly Medical Care
During Rroddie’s eight-year career, he was attached to multiple U.S. Army Special Forces Teams (ODA) while in Afghanistan. Rroddie also served with the Special OperationsTask Force 1 in Iraq. He completed over two dozen USSS (Secret Service) missions, both internationally and domestically, and was responsible for protecting the President of the United States
in Montenegro, Chile, Columbia, the Philippines, Korea, and in countless cities across the USA!
In retirement, MWD Rroddie was diagnosed with Vestibular Syndrome (seizures), and underwent a Splenectomy due to a large mass found on his spleen. The expensive veterinary visits and prescription medications will not be covered by the Government or the U.S. Military. The cost for Rroddie's surgeries and care was thousands of dollars and continued to grow each month. This was an extreme expense that we at PK9H feel shouldn’t have been left solely on his Handler, who was trying to transition from his military career to his new civilian job. Our nonprofit organization provided for this K-9 Hero at 100% for the remainder of his life. RRoddie reached his End of Watch November 18th, 2024.
K-9 Mattis Needed $8,000 of Emergency Care
K-9 Mattis was well known across Tik Tok and Instagram for his antics with his handler Mark. His friendly nature made him a wonderful ambassador to the public, and Mark often took Mattis out to meet adults and children to talk about how Project K-9 Hero has helped them have more years together.
In 2022, Mattis suddenly fell ill. Mark was told he had bloat and that he may not survive the night. Our founder called the veterinarians and told them to do whatever they had to to save Mattis. All the medical burden was removed from Mark's shoulders, and he was able to focus on his best friend. Mattis survived and continued to do his important outreach in the communities, talking about how necessary Police K-9s are in keeping our citizens safe.
K-9 Mattis had several more years with his family and reached his End of Watch on August 9, 2025.