K9's For Freedom & Independence

14/06/2026

13/06/2026

10/06/2026

More photos from the National CoResponder Conference in Dallas, TX.
We had a great time representing what Critical Incident Response Team K9s are, how different they are from Therapy Dogs etc and the training it takes to become certified. A big thank you to Amy Clifton, Michele McKinley , Stewart Brought for all your help.
Stewart got the meet Havens male counterpart, Cooper.

09/06/2026

Sharing some pictures from the National CoResponder Conference.

We have been able to have Det Michele McKinley, Bartlesville PD's only CIRT K9 to the event, CIRT K9 Jax. Overland Park Police Dept CIRT K9 Handler Stewart Brought is here, former CIRT K9 Handler Harold HB Bozeman is also here. It's like a family reunion.

07/06/2026

Big shout out to my newest top fans! 💎 Julie Kirk Shomody

Drop a comment to welcome them to our community,

05/06/2026

K9's For Freedom & Independence is training dogs to the level that is expected! As court cases start to make their way through the judicial system about Therapy Type dogs, the training, behavior and certification is going to be scrutinized.

At K9's For Freedom & Independence, part of the Fidos for Freedom initiative, we strive to bring people together and create a sense of belonging and connection within our communities. We are a nonprofit organization committed to making a positive impact by:

Beyond their role in crisis response, our CIRT K9s contribute to a broader movement emphasizing mental health and emotional care in emergency services and public safety. Our K9's, as part of the Public Safety's K9 Specialty Units, are often trained in critical incident and/or search and rescue, offering more than practical assistance—they provide an unbreakable bond that strengthens those they serve. As agencies across the nation increasingly prioritize stress management and psychological resilience, our CIRT K9s are proving to be an invaluable part of the first responder community.

Moreover, these K9s are not just working behind the scenes. They actively participate in training exercises, workshops, and seminars focused on mental wellness and crisis intervention. Their presence represents the evolving landscape of emergency response—one where mental health is treated with the same level of importance as physical safety. They also go on scene to incidents where an FBI Clearance is mandatory and a ASB acknowledged 3rd party public safety yearly certification is necessary to mitigate liability.

These dogs are NOT Therapy Dogs; they are well-trained Public Safety K9s that are prepared to deploy on scene to a mass casualty event, Officer Involved Shooting, Victim Interview & Cortisol Detection, etc. Their Handlers are trained in CISM, and in more and more states across the US, they are covered under a PEER Support law. They come with a complete and detailed background check and can legally work under National Case Law, HIPAA, CJIS, and Privacy Act.

We are the only organization that has brought the standard up to the same standard ALL public safety K9 Teams must meet.

Thank you for joining us in this journey.

05/06/2026

Bank of America, the official bank of FIFA World Cup 2026™, Vet Tix and FIFA today announced a partnership to provide $2.25 million in free World Cup 2026 tickets to military veterans, current military and first responders, and their families, who live in or near FIFA World Cup host cities. The ti...

02/06/2026

Help Us to Help Heroes Heal, donate:

www.k9sforfreedom.org

01/06/2026

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