Michigan based national non-profit, Project K-9 Hero, to be featured on the hood of Jeffrey Earnhardt's, # 96 Toyota Camry, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Consumers Energy 400 race, at Michigan International Speedway, this Sunday, August 12th, 2018 at 2:30 PM EST on NBCSN.
Detroit, Michigan - Project K-9 Hero Founder/CEO, Jason Johnson, National Ambassador, K-9 Axel, and Project K-9 Hero member, K-9 Jake, with their handlers, will be introduced during the drivers meeting while the mission of the national non-profit is described.
“We are excited to have this opportunity to be featured on Jeffrey Earnhardt's hood at our home-state track.” said Amanda Bolyard (Project K-9 Hero’s National Director of Fundraising). “Our goal is to raise awareness for retired Police K-9 and Military Working Dog Heroes nationwide. Our partnership with iK9 and Xtreme Concepts, of Birmingham, AL, who are sponsoring our logo on the car, allows us the opportunity to get in front of a national audience. This race is especially important because we are featured on the hood, although our logo will remain on the B-post of the car for the remainder of the season, thanks to our sponsors.”
K-9 Axel is retired from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives Special Response Team One from Detroit, MI, where he conducted over 200 high-risk missions nationwide as a Tactical K-9 apprehending some of the nation’s most violent criminals. Axel was one of only five active K-9's of his kind during his 7 years of service to our country. Today, K-9 Axel travels the United States educating others on the needs of retired Police K-9 and Military Working Dog Heroes nationwide as an Ambassador of the Project K-9 Hero Foundation.
K-9 Jake is a retired Explosives Detection K-9 with the National Geo-spatial Intelligence Agency. Jake searched thousands of vehicles, trucks, parcels, and packages without fail to help protect one of the nation’s most secure intelligence facilities in the Washington D.C. metro area. Jake now enjoys his retirement with his handler and his family outside of Chicago, IL.
Since its inception in March of 2016, Project K-9 Hero has aided over 30 retired Police K-9’s and Military Working Dog Heroes in the form of medical care, food, and end of duty services. There is a waiting list over 40 K-9’s long waiting for assistance. “After years of service in law enforcement or military deployment, many of these K-9’s leave service with complicated medical and dietary needs, sometimes resulting in thousands of dollars of care per year. While employed, these exceptional animals receive a host of benefits including food, shelter, companionship, and veterinary care, but once they “retire” from service, the question of how to provide for special needs is a serious consideration for someone considering adoption,” says Johnson.
Jason Johnson founded Project K-9 Hero to provide care to retired law enforcement and military working dogs. A former Soldier, Police K-9 Handler, and Federal K-9 Instructor himself, Johnson has made it his personal mission to provide assistance to the growing number of retired canine heroes. “As more and more military and law enforcement agencies employ K-9’s to assist on the job, in areas of patrol/apprehension, and drug or explosives detection, the question of how to provide for these K-9’s post-employment must be addressed,” explains Johnson. In addition to working to pay for medical bills and shelter these animals in forever homes, Johnson spends his free time educating law making officials and the public on the needs of these heroes. “These K-9 Heroes, in some cases, have given all if not a majority of their lives to guaranteeing our safety, and it is our responsibility to ensure their final days are comfortable and spent in a nurturing and safe environment,” emphasizes Johnson.
Project K-9 Hero educates the public on the costs and responsibilities of adopting a retired K-9 hero and helps cover or offset all medical, food, and end of duty costs for retired K-9 Heroes in order to ensure each K-9 Hero is rewarded with health and the way of life that they deserve for their faithful and loyal service to our communities and our country.
Visit www.projectk9hero.org for additional information or contact Project K-9 Hero at info@ProjectK9hero.org
