K9 Hero Guardians

10/12/2026

We have a lot more photos from the Novi Pet Expo to share with you. But for now, we wanted to share a picture of just some of the amazing friends who make this whole mission possible. This was our Novi team this year and they knocked it out of the park! They have all signed on (unknowingly) to a lifetime commitment 😅

10/11/2026

It has been a fantastic 2 days of the Novi Pet Expo so far!! We are 7 demos into it, with 3 more tomorrow!!

A huge thank you to our K9’s, their humans, and our amazing friends for hanging in there all weekend: BlueLine Police K-9, Adventures of Watson, K9 Mando, Paws & Beyond, and our friends from Ohio - John and Kelley!

Tomorrow is the last day! The expo runs 10:00 - 5:00 PM with demos at 12:30, 2:00, and 3:30.

10/10/2026

🚨 The first day of the Novi Pet Expo was incredible! We’ll share more on that later, but for now, we wanted to introduce Miss Rolex!

Rolex and her human partner, Don, from BlueLine Police K-9, will be helping with the first demo or two this morning. Rolex recently certified in explosives detection from the USPCA. Congratulations!!

*Reminder that there is a $10 parking charge for the venue. You can also purchase expo tickets online and use the code WELOVEPETS to save $2!

📸: BlueLine Police K-9

10/08/2026

🚨🐾 Joining us this weekend to help with the police K9 demonstrations at the Novi Pet Expo, is K9 Mando with his partner Deputy Ferrier!

K9 Mando and Deputy Ferrier are ready to show expo attendees all about the amazing work they do to keep their community safe. We are so excited to have this team joining us this weekend!

K9’s Mando and Watson are perfect examples of the benefits of having these K9 heroes in your communities. Be sure to catch one of the demos this weekend and meet both K9’s and their partners. Bring all your questions for the Q & A session that will come at the end of each demo!

Your support at our booth will benefit both of these teams and the work they do, so be sure to stop by. You never know what unique gifts you might find 🎁 And best of all, you’re helping K9’s like Mando and Watson 💙🧡

We have one more team to introduce to you, so watch for that tomorrow!

*Save $2 by purchasing your expo tickets on the expo’s website. There is also a $10 charge for parking.

10/07/2026

🐾🧡🐾 We are thrilled to share with you our first guest team that will be joining us this weekend at the Novi Pet Expo!!

K9 Watson and his human partner, Mandy!! They are a wonderful Search and Rescue team from the Mid Michigan region.

They will be helping us with demonstrations and meet & greets this weekend and we’re so excited!

Save a couple dollars by purchasing your tickets online and using the promo code WELOVEPETS.

*Please note there is a parking charge of $10.

10/05/2026

Resting up and dreaming about all the fun she’s going to have this weekend at the Novi Pet Expo 😴

10/04/2026

You guys!! 🤯 We don’t know what to say! You showed up in full force today!! THANK YOU!! Weather was beyond perfect and your support was mind blowing! Thank you for showing up and for supporting so many K9’s!

Thank you to Johnson's Pumpkin Farm for once again inviting us to participate in Safety Day. We look forward to this event every year, and not just because you have some of the best donuts ever! You guys are absolutely amazing!

Next weekend we will be at the Novi Pet Expo and we have a couple super special guests joining! We can’t wait to spill the beans! 🤭

10/02/2026

Tomorrow is Safety Day at Johnson's Pumpkin Farm! The event runs 10-4 but the farm is open 9-7. We will be set up from 9 until about 5 or 6. Faith and her friends will have a limited number of goody bags for kids that drop by, so be sure to find us early! Thank you Kathy, Lynn, and Leslie for getting the bags all together!

We will also have some really great deals on many items. Some for only a $1 donation! We’ll see you tomorrow at the farm!

10/01/2026

K9 Hero Guardians is pleased to announce that it has received a $9,000 grant from the Gladwin County Community Foundation to support the purchase and donation of a fi****ms detection K9 to the Gladwin City Police Department.

The K9, Coach, is a rescued German Shepherd mix from Genesee County Animal Control. Coach has undergone specialized evaluation and training from BlueLine Police K-9 to become a fi****ms detection and tracking K9 and will serve the Gladwin community alongside Officer Bob Doyle, the department’s school resource officer.

K9 Hero Guardians has donated Coach to the Gladwin Police Department, where he will become an important addition to the department’s public-safety efforts. His specialized capabilities will provide law enforcement with an additional resource for detecting fi****ms while also allowing Coach and Officer Doyle to build relationships with students and members of the community.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Gladwin County Community Foundation for its generous support of this important project,” said Jody Wilk, President of K9 Hero Guardians. “Coach’s story is especially meaningful because he was given a second chance after being rescued from Genesee County Animal Control. Now, he has the opportunity to serve and protect the Gladwin community alongside Officer Doyle.”

The partnership between Coach and Officer Doyle is particularly significant given Officer Doyle’s role as the school resource officer. Their presence will provide opportunities for Coach to interact with students while supporting the Gladwin Police Department’s efforts to promote a safe school environment.

“We are excited to welcome Coach to the Gladwin Police Department,” said Officer Bob Doyle, School Resource Officer. “He has already come a long way, and we look forward to continuing his training and building the bond that will allow us to serve our schools and our community together.”

The $9,000 grant from the Gladwin County Community Foundation helps make it possible for K9 Hero Guardians to place Coach with the Gladwin Police Department without the department having to bear the full cost of acquiring a specialized K9. In addition to the grant from the Gladwin County Community Foundation, several Gladwin area businesses have pledged their support, including veterinary care, food, equipment, and even car washes for the patrol vehicle.

“This is a great example of what can happen when community organizations come together to support local law enforcement,” said Wilk. “We are proud to support the Gladwin Police Department as they bring Coach into the community.”

Coach’s journey—from a shelter dog to a specially trained fi****ms detection K9—highlights the potential of rescued dogs and the difference that community support can make.

About the Gladwin County Community Foundation:

The Gladwin County Community Foundation exists to cultivate the power of giving within our community, support long-term transformation, and help ensure all residents thrive.

About K9 Hero Guardians:

K9 Hero Guardians was founded to provide assistance for law enforcement K9’s. It is their mission to provide funding to law enforcement agencies for the purchase and use of police service dogs.

K9 Hero Guardians is an all volunteer-based program. All proceeds raised support active and retired police K9’s. These donations are used to cover costs associated with purchasing a dog, training, equipment, veterinary care, food, and more.

09/30/2026

We are so happy to see this news!! Congratulations on the new K9 program, Midland County Sheriff’s office!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation Awards Grant to Midland County Sheriff’s Office for New K9 Unit

MIDLAND COUNTY, MI — The Midland County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a grant from The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation to support the establishment of a new K9 unit within the Midland County Sheriff’s Office.

The grant will provide funding to purchase a dedicated vehicle and specialized equipment necessary to establish and operate the new K9 unit. The addition of a K9 capability will enhance the Sheriff’s Office’s ability to respond to a variety of public-safety needs throughout Midland County.

The new K9 unit will provide an additional resource for law enforcement operations, including the detection and location of illegal narcotics, tracking and locating individuals, searches, and other situations where a trained law enforcement K9 can provide unique capabilities.

“This grant represents a significant investment in the safety and security of the residents of Midland County,” said Midland County Sheriff Scott Holzinger. “We are extremely grateful to The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation for recognizing the value a K9 unit can bring to our community. The vehicle and equipment provided through this grant will give us the resources necessary to establish the program properly and provide our deputies with another valuable tool to protect and serve Midland County.”

The establishment of the K9 unit will also provide opportunities for the Sheriff’s Office to assist other law enforcement agencies and public-safety partners throughout the county when a K9 resource is needed.

“The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation has been proud to support the people of Midland County since our first grant to the County in 1956. We are pleased to continue that partnership with this grant to the Midland County Sheriff’s Department as it adds a K9 unit, providing an added measure of protection for the community and the deputies who serve it,” said Dr. Ruth Alden Doan, President and Trustee of The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation.

“The support of organizations such as The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation allows local public-safety agencies to develop programs and obtain equipment that may otherwise be difficult to fund through traditional government resources,” Sheriff Holzinger said. “We appreciate the Foundation’s continued commitment to making Midland County a stronger and safer community.”

The Midland County Sheriff’s Office looks forward to implementing the new K9 program later this year and utilizing this additional resource to enhance law enforcement services throughout Midland County.

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