K9 Legacy Project

10/15/2026

We aren’t handlers but I believe the basis of this applies to anyone with dogs.

Not everyone should be a handler. And that's okay.

Behind every confident dog-and-handler team is a person who has put in work most people never see.

It takes patience. Progress is slow, and some days go backwards. A good handler stays calm when the dog doesn't get it right.
It takes consistency. Dogs read everything: your timing, your body language, your mood.

Being "mostly consistent" isn't enough.
It takes humility. When something goes wrong, the first question is "What did I do?", not "What's wrong with the dog?"

It takes commitment. Training doesn't stop when the shift ends. It's daily, for the whole life of the dog.

It takes honest self-awareness. A great dog in the wrong hands is a wasted dog, and sometimes a dangerous one.

Handling isn't about having a cool dog. It's about being the person your dog can trust and rely on, every day. And if that isn't you, that's not failure. It just means you can still support the work in other ways, with the right trainer and the right dog in the right hands.

10/14/2026

🐾 K9 LEGACY PROJECT | TOPIC OF THE DAY

Should every retired Military Working Dog be available for adoption?

When people picture a retired MWD, they often imagine a dog relaxing on the couch, playing in the yard, and enjoying family life.

But retirement isn’t always that simple.

Some MWDs retire with serious medical conditions, behavioral challenges, or bite histories that make traditional adoption difficult or unsafe.

At K9 Legacy Project, we believe every retired working dog deserves a peaceful, comfortable retirement. But we also recognize that not every dog is suited for a traditional home.

That’s why lifelong sanctuaries like ours exist.

🐾 Now we want to hear from YOU!

Should every retired MWD be given the opportunity for adoption, or should lifelong sanctuary placement be a recognized retirement option?

Photo: Balt made it all the way through training and certification and was about to head to the fleet for deployment when they discovered a fracture in his foot. He developed some naughty behaviors when he was kept from working to heal and became a bully to kennel staff. He was eventually medically and behaviorally retired. We adopted him as our first MWD and before K9 Legacy existed. He is now one of the goofiest, best boys we have!

10/13/2026

⚓️🇺🇸 Happy 251st Birthday to the United States Navy! 🇺🇸⚓️

Here at K9 Legacy Project, we have the honor of providing a forever home to two retired Navy Military Working Dogs, Oscar and Tomi.

These incredible dogs dedicated their working years to serving our country, and now it’s our privilege to serve them in retirement.

Today, we celebrate the Navy, its proud history, and the brave men, women, and four-legged heroes who have served!

Fair winds and following seas! ⚓️🐾

10/13/2026

I spy a Tomi boy!!

10/13/2026

🐾 K9 LEGACY PROJECT | THIRD QUARTER 2026 IMPACT REPORT
July 1 – September 30, 2026

As we close out our third quarter, we want to take a moment to share our progress, challenges, and financial information with the people who make our mission possible.

As a relatively new nonprofit, we believe transparency is important. You trust us with your donations, and we believe you deserve to know how those funds are being used and what we're accomplishing along the way.

🐾 OUR SANCTUARY

During the third quarter:

- 11 retired working dogs were in our care as of September 30.
- 2 new working dogs were welcomed into retirement.
- We continued providing individualized care for dogs with significant medical and behavioral needs.
- We made progress toward expanding our kennel spaces and outdoor yards.

Unfortunately, this quarter also brought heartbreak. On August 11, we said goodbye to MWD Keno F009. His time with us was far too short, but he will forever remain part of the K9 Legacy Project family.

💰 THIRD QUARTER FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Donations Received: $30,548

August Auction Proceeds: Just under $5,300

Total Funds Raised: Approximately $35,800

Our third-quarter expenditures were:

- Veterinary Care: $2,500
- Food & Supplements: $3,457
- General Operating Expenses: $9,000
- Renovation Expenditures: $27,000

Total Expenditures: $41,957

Our expenses exceeded the donations received during the third quarter. The difference was covered through personal funds to ensure our dogs' needs were met and our improvements could continue moving forward. While we are incredibly grateful for the financial support we receive, the reality is that operating a sanctuary often requires us to personally cover expenses when donations fall short.

❤️ A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU

This quarter, we were incredibly fortunate to receive a generous $25,000 donation specifically designated for our sanctuary renovations. This contribution, which is included in the $30,548 in donations reported above, made a tremendous difference in our ability to move forward with improvements that have been needed for quite some time. We cannot adequately express our gratitude for this level of generosity and belief in our mission.

It's also important to explain that funds donated for specific purposes, such as renovations or individual dog sponsorships, are allocated accordingly. While a large contribution can make our financial totals appear substantial, those funds are not necessarily available for everyday expenses. This is why we continue fundraising for food, veterinary care, medications, utilities, and the many other expenses involved in caring for our dogs.

🔨 FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS

A major focus this quarter has been improving our sanctuary's infrastructure. $27,000 has been invested in renovations intended to provide additional secure kennel spaces and outdoor yards. While we've experienced delays, unexpected repairs, and setbacks, these improvements are an important investment in the long-term safety and comfort of our dogs. Our goal has never been to simply house retired working dogs. We want to provide an environment where they can live comfortably, safely, and with the individualized attention they deserve.

📋 NONPROFIT COMPLIANCE & TRANSPARENCY

K9 Legacy Project is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating entirely through volunteers. We have no paid staff.

We also just filed our Louisiana Annual Report with the Secretary of State, fulfilling another important state reporting responsibility.

As our organization grows, we want to make quarterly impact reports a regular part of keeping our supporters informed about our operations, finances, accomplishments, and challenges.

🐾 LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FINAL QUARTER

As we move into the final months of 2026, our priorities include:

- Continuing progress on our kennel and yard renovations.
- Maintaining consistent funding for veterinary care, food, and daily operating expenses.
- Preparing for upcoming fundraising opportunities.
- Ensuring the dogs already entrusted to us continue receiving the lifelong care they need.

❤️ THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN US

We know we ask for help often, and we understand that not everyone is in a position to donate.

This first year has been a learning experience filled with incredible moments, difficult losses, unexpected expenses, and more challenges than we ever anticipated.

We're not a large organization with paid employees or an endless supply of resources. We're a small, 2 person volunteer operated sanctuary doing everything we can to give these retired working dogs the safe, permanent retirement they deserve.

And because of you, we're making progress.

Whether you've donated $5 or $5,000, sponsored a dog, contributed to our fundraisers, shared our posts, or simply encouraged us along the way, you have helped make this possible.

Thank you for standing behind K9 Legacy Project and, more importantly, the dogs who depend on us.

Their service may have ended, but our commitment to them never will. 🐾

K9 Legacy Project
Louisiana 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
Honor • Care • Forever Home

Why are we sharing quarterly impact reports?

As a relatively new nonprofit, we believe trust is something that should be earned, not simply expected. We ask our supporters to believe in our mission and contribute their hard-earned money to help us care for retired working dogs. In return, we believe you deserve to know where those contributions go, what we've accomplished, and what challenges we continue to face. We want to be transparent about both our successes and our financial struggles. Not every quarter will end with more money coming in than going out, and not every project will go exactly as planned. Our goal is to build an organization that is accountable, responsible, and worthy of the trust you place in us. Transparency isn't something we should practice only when asked. It's something we believe should be part of our organization from the very beginning.

10/13/2026

Good news for our Bonnie girl! ❤️🐾

Thankfully, no broken bones! She has some shoulder tenderness, but the vet believes it’s nothing more than a strain and bruising.

She received laser therapy and will be on medication, rest, and leash walks only for the next few days.

We are incredibly relieved it wasn’t something more serious. And as always, we are so grateful to Folsom Veterinary Clinic for providing outstanding care for our pups!

Thanks to your generosity, we already have nearly HALF of her vet visit covered by donations! We can’t thank everyone enough for stepping up when we need you!

10/12/2026

🚨 EMERGENCY VET VISIT — BONNIE NEEDS YOUR HELP! 🚨



Our sweet Bonnie is hurt, and we could really use some help right now.

Her cataracts have been getting progressively worse, but that hasn't slowed down her love for chasing her favorite ball. Unfortunately, today that led to an accident. We weren't even playing she was just out doing her thing when it got away from her. She took off after it at full speed and, with her declining vision, ran straight into a stump. She's injured her leg and is clearly in pain. We don't know how serious it is yet, but we're taking her to the vet to find out.

I'll admit, days like today make me wonder if maybe we aren't cut out for this after all. It feels like we just can't catch a break. Every time we think we're getting ahead, something else happens. It's exhausting, emotionally and financially, and sometimes it's hard not to feel defeated.

But these dogs deserve the absolute best care, regardless of what challenges come our way. They gave their best during their years of service, and we owe them the same in retirement.

Emergency veterinary funds are one area where we are seriously lacking. We do our best to keep up with everyday expenses and ongoing medical needs, but there's very little left to set aside for unexpected situations like this. And with 11 working dogs depending on us, that's a scary position to be in. We don't have an estimate of cost yet, but we'll share updates as we know more.

If you can help, even a few dollars makes a difference. If you can't, please share.

Payment to K9 Legacy account at Folsom Veterinary Clinic can be made directly to clinic by calling 985-796-3313

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/heroes-veterinary-care-fund

💡 A QUICK NOTE ABOUT ZEFFY:
Zeffy is completely fee-free for K9 Legacy Project, so we receive 100% of your intended donation. During checkout, Zeffy may automatically suggest an additional contribution to support their platform. That additional amount is optional and can be changed or removed before completing your donation. You do not have to pay anything extra for us to receive your full donation.

10/11/2026

October has certainly kept us on our toes, and we’re only 10 days in!

Between changing positions at my real job and navigating a whole new learning curve, finishing up my last two weeks of biology and lab (before taking a term off to regroup), and everything happening with our family, it’s been a lot!

We’ve spent the last week helping our son and daughter-in-law prepare for Hurricane Isaias in Florida, then watching helplessly through FaceTime as they took a pretty substantial hit. Thankfully, everyone is safe, and while the damage is significant, their home is still habitable.

We’re also helping our daughter and granddaughter make their move back to Tennessee, all while anxiously awaiting the arrival of our newest granddaughter in mid-December!

Needless to say, it’s been a busy and somewhat overwhelming start to October, but we’re hanging in there!

On the K9 Legacy side of things, we’re really hoping the very near future brings the start of our new kennel spaces and play yards. It’s something we’ve worked so hard toward, and we’re anxious to finally see it come together.

If you’ve noticed us being a little quieter than usual, please don’t mistake that for anything other than us taking a much-needed breather, regrouping, and figuring out how to navigate the final months of our first full year as a nonprofit.

And through all of this, our dogs are still getting the same love, care, and attention they always have. That part never slows down!

We truly wouldn’t be where we are without the amazing people who believe in what we’re doing. I know we ask for a lot, and we ask often. But the reality is that your donations, shares, encouragement, and continued support are what keep this sanctuary going. Because of you, our name is reaching more people, our mission is gaining recognition, and we’re able to keep making progress for dogs who deserve a safe place to spend their retirement.

We still have a little ways to go to meet our October fundraising goal. If you’re in a position to help, we would be incredibly grateful. And if you aren’t, that’s okay too! Just keep sharing our posts, telling people about us, and helping us spread the word.

We’re tired, we’re juggling a million things, and we’re figuring some of it out as we go. But we’re still here, still moving forward, and still just as committed to these dogs as we were on day one.

Thank you for sticking with us through all of it. ❤️🐾

Photo: Oscar is a 7 yr old dual purpose whose now sole purpose is to yell at me for taking to long to give him his food, yells at me if any other dog is getting attention, and demands that I move his bed for him every-time he loses his ball under it. He loves Jeep rides, snacks and short walks. His pannus keeps him inside a lot and his hips are a little squirrelly sometimes but he still loves life!

10/09/2026

We received a pretty incredible donation for our next fundraiser!

A huge thank you to Kabul Small Animal Rescue and its founder, Charlotte, for donating beautiful, authentic Afghan jewelry and pashmina scarves!

These items unfortunately didn’t arrive in time for our Auctions in August fundraiser, but we’re excited to include them in a future event!

Beyond this generous donation, Charlotte has been an incredible source of support and guidance over the last several months. We’re truly grateful for her willingness to share her knowledge, offer advice, and support what we’re building here at K9 Legacy Project.

Thank you, Charlotte, for everything you do for animals around the world and for taking the time to help our little sanctuary along the way.

10/08/2026

It looks like we may be spared the worst of Hurricane Isaias, with strong winds being our biggest concern. And when you have as many trees as we do, wind is never something we take lightly!

Unfortunately, my son and daughter-in-law, along with our friends at NAS Pensacola, Eglin Air Force Base, and Tyndall Air Force Base, are in areas expected to see much more significant impacts.

Please keep our military families, friends, first responders, and everyone in the hurricane’s path in your thoughts and prayers over the next couple of days.

Praying everyone stays safe and comes through with minimal damage.