Spike's K9 Fund in the news
Spike's K9 Fund in the news
- 19 Jul 2023
NORFOLK, Va. — Five Virginia K9 dogs were fitted for $3,000 custom-fit ballistic vests in Norfolk Wednesday morning with help from Spike's K9 Fund.
The dogs, which are from the Virginia Beach Police Department, U.S. Navy and Virginia State Police, are getting the vests for free thanks to donations to Spike's K9 Fund.
According to the fund, the vests are ballistic and stab resistant, weighing on average 1.5 pounds. They fit like a second skin, allowing the K9 dogs to be fully mobile when working.
The fund said it has donated more than 1,000 ballistic vests to K9s across the country, which has saved people's lives.
The dogs, which are from the Virginia Beach Police Department, U.S. Navy and Virginia State Police, are getting the vests for free thanks to donations to Spike's K9 Fund.
According to the fund, the vests are ballistic and stab resistant, weighing on average 1.5 pounds. They fit like a second skin, allowing the K9 dogs to be fully mobile when working.
The fund said it has donated more than 1,000 ballistic vests to K9s across the country, which has saved people's lives.
- 18 Apr 2023
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – Four Hampton Roads police dogs are receiving free life-saving protection from a nonprofit organization.
Spike’s K9 Fund says it works to equip police dogs with lifesaving gear and has provided free equipment to over 2,100 dogs across the country. In addition to gear, the nonprofit funds medical cost assistance and specialized training to the dogs they assist.
Now, the nonprofit is donating gear to four K9s in Hampton Roads.
Spike’s K9 Fund says it works to equip police dogs with lifesaving gear and has provided free equipment to over 2,100 dogs across the country. In addition to gear, the nonprofit funds medical cost assistance and specialized training to the dogs they assist.
Now, the nonprofit is donating gear to four K9s in Hampton Roads.
- 11 Apr 2023
FINNEYTOWN, Ohio — School was in session for some four-legged students Monday as more than a dozen police dogs from across the Tri-State embarked on a critical training course to better protect the community.
Fifteen K-9 teams took over the former Brent Elementary School in Finneytown for day one of Spike's K-9 Decoy School.
The three-day program focuses on helping both dogs and handlers increase their chances of safely apprehending dangerous suspects out on the streets.
Fifteen K-9 teams took over the former Brent Elementary School in Finneytown for day one of Spike's K-9 Decoy School.
The three-day program focuses on helping both dogs and handlers increase their chances of safely apprehending dangerous suspects out on the streets.
- 07 Sep 2022
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — A member of the Lansing Police Department is better protected now thanks to a donation from a national charity.
The department’s K9 ‘Rocky’ now has an updated protective vest thanks to Spikes K9 Fund.
Officials say the new one is much lighter and easier to wear and gives great protection.
“I’m so grateful to have organizations like this provide vest for these dogs,” said Austin Brown, a K9 handler for LPD. “Their vest is just like mine, and we value their life like one of our own. So it’s very important to have them protected just like me.”
Spike’s K9 Fund provides custom fit ballistic vests protective equipment medical cost assistance–
and access to training for k9 units across the country.
The department’s K9 ‘Rocky’ now has an updated protective vest thanks to Spikes K9 Fund.
Officials say the new one is much lighter and easier to wear and gives great protection.
“I’m so grateful to have organizations like this provide vest for these dogs,” said Austin Brown, a K9 handler for LPD. “Their vest is just like mine, and we value their life like one of our own. So it’s very important to have them protected just like me.”
Spike’s K9 Fund provides custom fit ballistic vests protective equipment medical cost assistance–
and access to training for k9 units across the country.
- 04 Mar 2020
James Hatch ’23, an ex-Navy SEAL and Eli Whitney first year at Yale, spoke on Saturday about his experience shouldering his backpack. He wasn’t referring to the workload at Yale, though — Hatch was talking about a metaphorical backpack filled with emotional baggage.
Hatch travelled to the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library in Branford, Connecticut, to share his story with the broader community. Hatch’s presentation about his experience in war and how he used his recovery to inform his outlook on life was filled with moments both touching and humorous. His presentation outlined his involvement in the Navy, his career-ending injury, his battle with depression and addiction and how he eventually learned to empty his proverbial backpack and grow from his pain.
Hatch travelled to the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library in Branford, Connecticut, to share his story with the broader community. Hatch’s presentation about his experience in war and how he used his recovery to inform his outlook on life was filled with moments both touching and humorous. His presentation outlined his involvement in the Navy, his career-ending injury, his battle with depression and addiction and how he eventually learned to empty his proverbial backpack and grow from his pain.
- 30 Dec 2019
52-year-old former Navy SEAL James Hatch started as a freshman at Yale this year. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with him about his first semester at the school.
- 03 Sep 2019
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Former Navy SEAL James Hatch says heading to class as a freshman at Yale University is just about as nerve-wracking as preparing for the uncertainty of combat.
At 52 years old, Hatch does not fit the profile of the traditional Yale freshman.
“My experience in academia is somewhat limited, at best,” he said. “But I want to learn, and I feel this can make me a better person. I also feel my life experience, maybe with my maturity – which my wife would say is laughable – I think I can help some of the young people out.”
Hatch’s journey to the Ivy League has been serpentine.
At 52 years old, Hatch does not fit the profile of the traditional Yale freshman.
“My experience in academia is somewhat limited, at best,” he said. “But I want to learn, and I feel this can make me a better person. I also feel my life experience, maybe with my maturity – which my wife would say is laughable – I think I can help some of the young people out.”
Hatch’s journey to the Ivy League has been serpentine.
- 30 Jan 2019
CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) - One man was arrested on Tuesday for assaulting a Butler County deputy and his K-9, Sheriff Richard Jones said.
Jones said deputies were dispatched to the Speedway gas station at Oxford State and South Main Street in Lemon Township around 3:30 p.m. for a suspicious male.
Witnesses told the deputies the man was acting strange, shouting and talking to himself walking around the parking lot with no shoes or coat.
According to Jones, 40-year-old Jessie Dennis was approached by Deputy James Davenport and became belligerent and combative. He displayed and threw a knife at Davenport. While attempting to detain him, Dennis started wrestling with him.
Davenport then deployed his K9 partner, Deputy Radi, but Dennis began kicking the dog in the head.
Jones said deputies were dispatched to the Speedway gas station at Oxford State and South Main Street in Lemon Township around 3:30 p.m. for a suspicious male.
Witnesses told the deputies the man was acting strange, shouting and talking to himself walking around the parking lot with no shoes or coat.
According to Jones, 40-year-old Jessie Dennis was approached by Deputy James Davenport and became belligerent and combative. He displayed and threw a knife at Davenport. While attempting to detain him, Dennis started wrestling with him.
Davenport then deployed his K9 partner, Deputy Radi, but Dennis began kicking the dog in the head.
- 10 Jun 2018
DURHAM, N.C. — Durham community members on Sunday came together to raise money for working K9s.
Spike’s K9 Fund outfits police dogs across the country with bulletproof vests as well as care when needed.
So far, Spike’s has helped almost 600 K9s across the United States.
Locally, 25 dogs have been outfitted with bulletproof vests. Organizers say that type of protection is critical.
“The K9s go out and do crazy stuff on behalf of the humans in the community and to protect the officers, so we want to make sure they are protected,” said James Hatch with Spike’s K9 Fund.
“The K9s can actually do the job of numerous officers. Whether it’s for searching, whether it’s for tracking someone, there’s nothing that we as officers can do that can replicate the capabilities of the K9,” said Carl Rodrigues with the Morrisville Police Department.
Spike’s K9 Fund outfits police dogs across the country with bulletproof vests as well as care when needed.
So far, Spike’s has helped almost 600 K9s across the United States.
Locally, 25 dogs have been outfitted with bulletproof vests. Organizers say that type of protection is critical.
“The K9s go out and do crazy stuff on behalf of the humans in the community and to protect the officers, so we want to make sure they are protected,” said James Hatch with Spike’s K9 Fund.
“The K9s can actually do the job of numerous officers. Whether it’s for searching, whether it’s for tracking someone, there’s nothing that we as officers can do that can replicate the capabilities of the K9,” said Carl Rodrigues with the Morrisville Police Department.
- 30 Jun 2017
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The non-profit Spike’s K9 Fund is donating ballistic vests to IMPD’s K9 unit.
All 25 patrol dogs are getting fitted for custom made vests to protect them while working, a donation worth more than $60,000.
Spikes K9 Fund was created by Jimmy Hatch, a retired Navy Seal who says his life was saved by combat K9s many times.
Hatch met IMPD Sergeant Craig Patton while they were both serving in Afghanistan, a connection that helped to bring this donation here to Indy.
All 25 patrol dogs are getting fitted for custom made vests to protect them while working, a donation worth more than $60,000.
Spikes K9 Fund was created by Jimmy Hatch, a retired Navy Seal who says his life was saved by combat K9s many times.
Hatch met IMPD Sergeant Craig Patton while they were both serving in Afghanistan, a connection that helped to bring this donation here to Indy.
- 12 Jun 2017
CNN's Anderson Cooper learned about Spike's K9 Fund while doing a story two years ago. This charity trains and cares for military and law enforcement K9's during their service and beyond.
- 03 Feb 2017
MORRISVILLE, North Carolina (WTVD) -- For many officers, the reality of the job is that danger could be just a dispatch call away.
However on Friday, a Morrisville police officer, along with his partner, became a little bit safer thanks to a generous donation.
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Senior K-9 Officer Carl Rodrigues' partner, 2-year-old Arko, is now outfitted with a vest that could be the difference between life and death.
"Outside of my wife and kids, is my worse fear to lose him ... it would crush me," Rodrigues said. "He's with me more than my wife, more than my kids."
However on Friday, a Morrisville police officer, along with his partner, became a little bit safer thanks to a generous donation.
Stay on top of breaking news stories with the ABC11 News App
Senior K-9 Officer Carl Rodrigues' partner, 2-year-old Arko, is now outfitted with a vest that could be the difference between life and death.
"Outside of my wife and kids, is my worse fear to lose him ... it would crush me," Rodrigues said. "He's with me more than my wife, more than my kids."