Police And Working K-9 Foundation

ORGANIZATIONS PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSETHE POLICE AND WORKING K-9 FOUNDATION WORKS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN CALIFORNIA TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING FOR K-9 TEAMS. WE PROVIDE CUSTOMIZED BULLET-PROOF K9 VESTS, HEAT ALARMS FOR PATROL CARS, A K-9 EMERGENCY MEDICINE COURSE AND CUSTOM COVER YOUR K-9 TRAUMA KITS. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE OUR DEFENDERS MILITARY WORKING DOG FUND AND OUR NEW EDUCATIONAL K-9 HEROES SCHOOL PROGRAM. WE MAINTAIN AN IMPORTANT COVER YOUR K9 RETIRED K-9 EMERGENCY CARE FUND TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE TO RETIRED K-9S. WE ALSO HAVE AIR FOR ANIMALS PROGRAM TO PROVIDE ANIMAL OXYGEN MASK KITS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.STATEMENT OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTSTHE POLICE AND WORKING K-9 FOUNDATION COVER YOUR K-9 PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED ESSENTIAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT K-9 TEAMS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SINCE 2009 AND WE ARE NOW PROVIDING ASSISTANCE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, STARTING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT K9 TEAMS IN LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES. WE ARE PROUD THAT OUR COVER YOUR K-9 BULLET-PROOF VESTS ARE MADE IN CALIFORNIA AND WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED HUNDREDS OF THE CUSTOM LEVEL IIIA BULLETPROOF VESTS TO PROTECT LAW ENFORCEMENT K-9S IN CITIES AND COUNTIES IN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SINCE WE STARTED OUR PROGRAM. THIS PAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE PROTECTIVE BALLISTIC VESTS TO K9S AT ALAMEDA COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE, THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL, CITRUS HEIGHTS PD, MARINA PD, PLEASANT HILL PD, ROSEVILLE PD, SAN FRANCISCO PD, SAN JOSE PD, AND THE SAN MATEO COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE.ALTHOUGH WE HAD INITIAL CHALLENGES SOURCING SUPPLIES FOR OUR KITS DURING THE PANDEMIC, OUR HARDWORKING VOLUNTEERS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR CUSTOM COVER YOUR K9 TRAUMA KITS, WHICH ARE VALUED AT OVER $300 AND DISTRIBUTE THEM TO K-9 TEAMS IN CALIFORNIA. DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS WE WERE NOT ABLE TO OFFER OUR NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED COVER YOUR K9 EMERGENCY MEDICINE COURSE IN APRIL AND OCTOBER OF 2021 BUT WILL DEFINITELY BE OFFERING OUR COURSES AGAIN IN 2022. SINCE STARTING OUR K9 EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRAINING IN 2011, OVER 1875 LAW ENFORCEMENT K9 HANDLERS FROM LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE ATTENDED THE LIFE-SAVING TRAINING & RECEIVED K9 TRAUMA KITS. WE ARE PROUD THAT OUR COVER YOUR TRAUMA KITS AND ADVANCED TRAINING HAVE SAVED THE LIVES OF SEVERAL K-9S OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.WHEN POLICE DOGS RETIRE THEY GO TO LIVE WITH THEIR HANDLER AND BECOME PART OF THE FAMILY. THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ONGOING CARE AND ANY MEDICAL EMERGENCIES FALLS TO THE HANDLER. WE BELIEVE THAT THESE K9S WHO HAVE SERVED AND PROTECTED US SO BRAVELY DESERVE MUCH BETTER IN THEIR GOLDEN YEARS. TO HELP THEM WE HAVE A SPECIAL RETIRED K-9 EMERGENCY CARE FUND TO ASSIST WITH UP TO $1000 TOWARD EMERGENCY CARE. WE HAVE LEARNED THAT MANY OF THE ELDERLY POLICE DOGS HAVE DEVELOPED SPINAL PROBLEMS DUE TO THE DEMANDS PLACED ON THEIR BODIES FROM MANY YEARS OF SERVICE. TO ASSIST THOSE K9S WITH WALKING, WE HAVE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE THESE RETIRED K9 HEROES WITH SPECIALIZED LOW PROFILE MOBILITY HELP EM UP HARNESSES TO ASSIST THEM WITH MAINTAINING THEIR DAILY ACTIVITIES AND QUALITY OF LIFE. THIS YEAR IT WAS A SPECIAL HONOR TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST RETIRED NEWARK PD K-9 ELIOT WITH EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE WHEN HE WAS RUSHED TO THE EMERGENCY VET AFTER SUFFERING FROM SEVERE SEIZURES. K-9 ELIOT WAS ABLE TO HAVE IMAGING AND TESTS TO DETERMINE THAT HE HAD DEVELOPED A SEIZURE DISORDER. WITH REGULAR MEDIATION HIS CONDITION HAS STABILIZED AND HE IS NOW ABLE TO ENJOY HIS RETIREMENT AT HOME WITH HIS FAMILY.WITH THE HELP OF THE COMMANDER AT TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE IN FAIRFIELD, CA, WE ESTABLISHED THE DEFENDERS MILITARY WORKING DOG FUND TO ALLOW THEIR UNIT TO HOST SPECIALIZED K9 TRAINING AS WELL AS A K9 TRIAL ON BASE TO BRING TOGETHER MILITARY WORKING DOG HANDLERS WITH POLICE AND SHERIFFS K9 HANDLERS FROM AROUND CALIFORNIA. THIS FUND ALSO PROVIDES ADDITIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE TRAVIS MWD TEAMS TO TRAVEL TO SPECIALIZED TRAINING THAT IS HELD OFF BASE. THE TRAVIS TEAMS PROVIDE SECURITY ON THE BASE, DEPLOY OVERSEAS ON MISSIONS AND PROVIDE MWD SCREENING FOR EXPLOSIVES DURING VISITS TO THE STATE BY FEDERAL DIGNITARIES AND FOREIGN HEADS OF STATE. THE MISSION OF THIS FUND IS TO ENHANCE THEIR TRAINING, READINESS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK AND COLLABORATE WITH REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HELP KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SECURE. THE TRAVIS AFB HANDLERS WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THE RENO 911 EXPLOSIVES K9 TRAINING.WE LOST OUR PRIMARY SPONSOR DUE TO THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES OF THE PANDEMIC AND LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING NEW SPONSORS TO ASSIST US WITH OUR MISSION GOING FORWARD.