CLEVELAND — They go to work every day. Never complain or ask for much.
They are K9 first responders who serve, protect and put themselves in harm’s way as required by the job.
“This is a dog that went to work with me every day, probably saved my life more times than I can count.”
Spencer Gale is talking about Arko, an 11-year-old Dutch and German Shepherd mix. Gale speaks not just for himself, but countless other first responders who call a K9 “partner."
“We were together more than probably with my family if I went back and looked at the hours. We have an incredible bond together. He's done more for me than I could ever thank him for, you know,” said the husband and father of three, who is also a Detective with the Ashtabula City Police Department.
Gale didn’t just work for six years with Arko by his side, they lived together too as is customary. During their career, food and veterinary bills are covered for these K9’s. But when they retire, as Arko did two years ago, that financial support often goes away.
“When you are talking about a working dog, a police dog that’s in a car for 6 years, 12-hour shifts – you know there’s a lot of wear and tear that goes on a dog,” Gale said.
Mentor-based “Veterans and First Responders Foundation” believes no law enforcement or military K9 handlers should have to part with their retired animals because they cannot afford to pay for care.
David Knott started VFR Foundation 10 years ago, to provide therapeutic resources and healing support. He comes from a long line of first responders and watched his own son join a local police department a few years ago.
More recently Knott succeeded in getting the first Saturday in August declared National VFR day – which supports mental health services for veterans and first responders.
And now enter Howling Heroes, a charitable arm of VFR. The non-profit raises funds to keep retired police and military dogs with their families, while covering their health expenses in retirement.
Since November, Howling Heroes has helped 10 retired first responder dogs with the K-9 Guardian Award. This provides the hander with $5,000 a year for medical and wellness expenses.
“We have a medical policy that they will have as long as they live. And it gives them full medical coverage,” including office visits, medicine, rehabilitation and even end of life services according to Knott.
Gale is grateful Arko is one of the first 10 to receive the K-9 Guardian Award.
“If Arko needs surgery, where do we get the money from? That Howling Heroes and the VFR foundation have solved that problem for my family,” Gale said.
Howling Heroes is in the process of selecting the next award recipients. Knott says the 501(c)(3) will be there to help as long as it is needed.
“I would hope one day that we don't have to do, do this, that as a country, we should be giving these dogs this automatically, just like any person,” Knott said.
In addition to Arko, here are some of the other K-9 Guardian Award recipients:
- Buffalo, NY National Explosives Canine Team Program Officer Michael Bogulski and K-9 Lyka
- Willoughby police officer Matt Neath and K-9 Loki
- Greater Cleveland RTA police officer Dennis Harmon, and K-9 Kubo
- Shaker Heights police officer Dan Saggio and K-9 Fox
- Columbus police officer Justin Chappelear and K-9 Finn
- Utah, police officer Eli Robertson and K-9 Dutch
If you would like to learn how you can support Howling Heroes, head HERE.
You can also learn more about the Veterans and First Responders Foundation HERE.