K-9 Joker's Emergency Surgery
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This has been a difficult few weeks for our Heroes. K-9 Yoube, our National Ambassador, is fighting to walk again and now K-9 Joker is in the ICU right alongside her.
Joker went in with a mass that was completely blocking his intestines. After a CT scan, his doctors recommended removal because it was the only way to find out what it is.
After everything Joker has been through, his family was hesitant to put him through more, but Joker's doctors believe that the surgery is the right choice and Joker has a good chance to recover.
Joker's Handler, Ed, said, "I know we have surpassed 10k dollars this week alone in medical bills. [We] could have never given him this chance without Project K9 Hero stepping up."
As of the latest update, he is out of surgery at Veterinary Care and Specialty Group in Chattanooga and they were able to remove the mass, a lymph node, and a foot and a half of his intestines then resectioned it together again.
It appeared that he had a perforation in there as well, and should definitely feel much better after this. He will need a strict diet with increased vitamins and nutrients. It will take a few days to get the pathology back of what the mass is exactly.
This has been a difficult few weeks for our Heroes. K-9 Yoube, our National Ambassador, is fighting to walk again and now K-9 Joker is in the ICU right alongside her.
Joker went in with a mass that was completely blocking his intestines. After a CT scan, his doctors recommended removal because it was the only way to find out what it is.
After everything Joker has been through, his family was hesitant to put him through more, but Joker's doctors believe that the surgery is the right choice and Joker has a good chance to recover.
Joker's Handler, Ed, said, "I know we have surpassed 10k dollars this week alone in medical bills. [We] could have never given him this chance without Project K9 Hero stepping up."
As of the latest update, he is out of surgery at Veterinary Care and Specialty Group in Chattanooga and they were able to remove the mass, a lymph node, and a foot and a half of his intestines then resectioned it together again.
It appeared that he had a perforation in there as well, and should definitely feel much better after this. He will need a strict diet with increased vitamins and nutrients. It will take a few days to get the pathology back of what the mass is exactly.
Please take a moment to watch this video we created about K-9 Joker's story, just after his last surgery.
K-9 Joker served as a Dual-Purpose Patrol/Narcotics Detection K-9 with the Bradley County Sheriff's Office TN, for seven years. On September 22nd, 2021, K-9 Joker was tragically shot in the line of duty while tracking and attempting to apprehend an armed auto burglary suspect. Joker sustained a gunshot wound to his face and head area during the incident, which left him in critical condition.
After receiving intensive care for almost three months, K-9 Joker was able to return back to work in December of 2021. However, lingering affects from the critical incident left him with progressive medical issues concerning his back. This required an additional surgery, and led to him being medically retired on May 25th, 2023.
On July 1st, 2022, the State of Tennessee passed “Joker’s Law,” which states that anyone in Tennessee who knowingly assaults a Police K-9, or any police animal, could face up to 30 years in prison. This is much needed change to our legislation that Joker was instrumental in establishing, to benefit generations to follow.
K-9 Joker's Bio
K-9 Joker served as a Dual-Purpose Patrol/Narcotics Detection K-9 with the Bradley County Sheriff's Office TN, for seven years. On September 22nd, 2021, K-9 Joker was tragically shot in the line of duty while tracking and attempting to apprehend an armed auto burglary suspect. Joker sustained a gunshot wound to his face and head area during the incident, which left him in critical condition.
After receiving intensive care for almost three months, K-9 Joker was able to return back to work in December of 2021. However, lingering affects from the critical incident left him with progressive medical issues concerning his back. This required an additional surgery, and led to him being medically retired on May 25th, 2023.
On July 1st, 2022, the State of Tennessee passed “Joker’s Law,” which states that anyone in Tennessee who knowingly assaults a Police K-9, or any police animal, could face up to 30 years in prison. This is much needed change to our legislation that Joker was instrumental in establishing, to benefit generations to follow.
Project K-9 Hero has paid over $10,000.00 this week to once again Save the Life of this Hero who once took a bullet for his handler in the line of duty.
By contributing, you help ensure Joker gets the life-saving treatment he needs.
Thank you for helping us give Joker the chance at more time with his family.
Project K-9 Hero has paid over $10,000.00 this week to once again Save the Life of this Hero who once took a bullet for his handler in the line of duty.
By contributing, you help ensure Joker gets the life-saving treatment he needs.
Thank you for helping us give Joker the chance at more time with his family.
We would especially like to thank Project K-9 Hero. There were never any questions asked about the cost of anything with Jokers' care.
I can’t describe to you what that feels like when you retire your K-9 who not only wrecked his body for the job he did for years but, in his case, took a bullet that was meant for officers.
Once they are no longer actively working, every bit of their care - annual vet appointments, food, surgeries - all of it belongs to the handler...unless you have Project K-9 Hero.
Their kindness and support of a service dog that they didn’t even KNOW has not only eased the financial burden for us but ensures that Joker will receive the best care and attention he deserves in his golden years."
-K-9 Joker's Handler
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 and 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?
MWD Rroddie Needs 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 has been 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. So far, the cost for Rroddie's surgeries and care has been thousands of dollars and continues to grow each month. This is an extreme expense that we at PK9H feel shouldn’t be left solely on his handler, who is currently trying to transition from his military career to his new civilian job. Our nonprofit organization has been and will continue to provide for this K-9 Hero at 100% for the remainder of his life.
K-9 Mattis Needed $8,000 of Emergency Care
K-9 Mattis is well known across Tik Tok and Instagram for his antics with his handler Mark. His friendly nature makes him a wonderful ambassador to the public, and Mark often takes 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 continues to do his important outreach in the communities talking about how necessary Police K-9s are in keeping our citizens safe.
MWD Rroddie Needs 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 has been 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. So far, the cost for Rroddie's surgeries and care has been thousands of dollars and continues to grow each month. This is an extreme expense that we at PK9H feel shouldn’t be left solely on his handler, who is currently trying to transition from his military career to his new civilian job. Our nonprofit organization has been and will continue to provide for this K-9 Hero at 100% for the remainder of his life.
K-9 Mattis Needed $8,000 of Emergency Care
K-9 Mattis is well known across Tik Tok and Instagram for his antics with his handler Mark. His friendly nature makes him a wonderful ambassador to the public, and Mark often takes 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 continues to do his important outreach in the communities talking about how necessary Police K-9s are in keeping our citizens safe.