Project K-9 Hero's Rehabilitation & Rehoming Facility Capital Campaign Committee

to Build Facility to Serve More Retired Working Dogs

[Whitwell, TN - July 2024] Project K-9 Hero is proud to announce the formation of the Project K-9 Hero Capital Campaign Committee, dedicated to securing funding for its planned Rehabilitation and Rehoming Facility. The Rehabilitation and Rehoming Facility, to be built at Project K-9 Hero’s 177-acre sanctuary in the Tennessee mountains, will consist of a rehabilitation building with capacity for 14 special needs K-9 Heroes, a corporate headquarters, a maintenance building, a K-9 caretaker’s residence to ensure staff is on site 24/7 and two adoption cabins, providing temporary accommodation for potential adopters. The Project K-9 Hero team has completed blueprints, civil engineering, site preparation, and has a construction team ready to break ground as soon as the funding is secured, with a goal to complete construction over the next three years. Find more information about Project K-9 Hero’s Rehabilitation and Rehoming Facility at https://projectk9hero.org/pages/capital-campaign.     

Project K-9 Hero was founded by Jason Johnson, a U.S. Army Veteran, to save the lives of working dogs retired from police agencies, fire departments, search and rescue organizations, federal law enforcement, and all branches of the U.S. military by providing medical care, rehabilitation, and rehoming services. Project K-9 Hero’s mission is to provide these K-9 Heroes with a comfortable and dignified retirement.  

“This state-of-the-art Rehabilitation and Rehoming Facility will serve K-9 Heroes for generations, providing them with a safe place to reside after their service, and an alternative to euthanasia for those with behavioral issues,” says Johnson, the organization’s founder and visionary behind this new facility.    

The Project K-9 Hero Capital Campaign Committee is made up of seven committed supporters:

Matthew Smith – Committee Chair

Matthew is passionate about animals and animal wellness, having spent close to 20 years in the pet industry. Matthew lives in Tennessee with his wife and four rescue dogs. His career in the pet industry, coupled with his patriotism and reverence for the U.S. military and first responders, drew him to Project K-9 Hero. Matthew is passionate about supporting Project K-9 Hero’s Rehoming and Rehabilitation Facility for the lifesaving services this new campus will provide to the K-9 Heroes who have dedicated themselves completely to our freedom.

“Project K-9 Hero has not only made an incredible impact on the K-9 Hero community but also on the human veteran, active-duty military and first responder communities,” said Matthew when asked to describe what makes this organization unique. “This unmatched impact would not be possible without the organization’s founder, Jason Johnson, who has dedicated his life to fulfilling Project K-9 Hero’s mission.”

Ken McCullough

Ken has held various leadership positions in the Daimler Truck world for more than 30 years and is currently Director – Financial Services for Gordon Truck Centers, Inc., located in Pacific, WA. While Ken has lived and worked in every region of the United States, he is originally from Starkville, MS, and a graduate of Mississippi State University. Ken describes the Project K-9 Hero mission as pure and genuine. Over the past three years, Ken has witnessed firsthand that every time you support a K-9 Hero you support a veteran or first responder.

David Levy

As a seasoned strategist in the consumer, retail, and pet industries, David excels in product development, business strategies, and fostering financial prosperity. Based in MN, David cherishes time with his family and fondly remembers their beloved dog, Lacey, who they lost in August 2021. David is drawn to Project K-9 Hero due to his personal connection to pets, coupled with the project's noble mission to provide for and honor the retired K-9 Heroes who have selflessly served the nation.

Michael Peterson

Michael has spent 30 years in the pet industry, with the last 25 as owner and operator of The Pet Group, a manufacturer representative company that manages leading pet product manufacturers in the pet industry. Michael lives in Thompson’s Station, TN, with his wonderful wife of nearly 29 years, Leslie, and three dogs. He has three wonderful children, one of which is beginning college at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville (with

his other two children attending the equally impressive Indiana University and University of Colorado Boulder). Michael’s is passionate about supporting the US military, law enforcement and animal welfare, making his support of Project K-9 Hero the perfect fit. Michael is excited to see the ways Project K-9 Hero can make an even greater impact with its Rehabilitation and Rehoming Facility. Michael brings to Project K-9 Hero not only his passion for the cause and industry experience, but also years of service on the board of Petco Love and PIJAC.

Rob Daley

Rob recently retired after a 43-year career in banking technology (the last 33 years running his own firm). Rob lives with his wife of 39 years and their one-year-old Doberman, Rolf, in the New Hampshire mountains near his daughter, a nurse, and his son, a K-9 police officer. As a lifelong dog lover and owner and strong patriot, volunteering to support Project K-9 Hero is a perfect fit for Rob’s retirement.

Jeremy Bates

Jeremy has been in the pet industry for nearly a decade, holding various global sourcing and operational leadership roles. At Petco, Jeremy excelled in global sourcing, product development and vendor relations, but he is most proud of his service as Co-Chair of Petco’s Military & Veterans Partner Resource Group. Jeremy is currently the Executive Vice President of Swedencare North America, where he oversees industry-leading brands, such as Vet Worthy and Riley’s, and also heads up operations of their Tampa, Florida-based national distribution facility. Jeremy’s dedicated support of the military and veteran community comes in large part from his six years of service as a US Navy Aviation Electrician and Functional Check Crewman on H60 helicopters. He is excited to leverage his executive and military service to advocate for retired military working dogs and police K-9’s that have served our country with valor. Jeremy lives with his wonderful wife, Nicole, and their Australian Shepherd,

Atlas, in Santee, California. Outside of work, his passions are his family, wine and golf.

Tony Barker

Tony served in the U.S. Border Patrol for more than two decades, holding various positions from Border PatrolAgent to Chief of Operations at U.S. Border Patrol headquarters, even serving as a canine handler and canine instructor for the Del Rio Sector. This passion to train dogs led him to assist several state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to start and maintain their canine usage in operational settings. Project K-9 Hero brings Tony full circle after this dedicated career, allowing him to stay connected to the canine community and give back

to those who served our country.

Tony was born in Savannah, Georgia, and was raised in norther Maine. He has a PhD from Capella University, a

MBA from Champlain College, and a BS in Criminal Justice from the University of Maine.  He is married with two children and lives in Fredericksburg, VA. Tony is enthusiastic about the opportunity to support Project K-9 Hero’s Rehabilitation of Rehoming Facility.

The Project K-9 Hero Capital Campaign Committee is thrilled to support the building of the Rehabilitation and Rehoming Facility.

About Project K-9 Hero: Project K-9 Hero is a nonprofit organization dedicated to covering the costs of medical care, prescription food, and end-of-duty services to our nation’s retired Police K-9s and Military Working Dogs. Learn more about Project K-9 Hero at www.projectk9hero.org

[Originally posted October, 2023. Updated July 2024.]