Rosie is a certified search and rescue dog working for the White River Township Fire Department in Johnson County. The German shepherd mix is trained to find human remains or the scent of a missing person.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

CNN's Anderson Cooper speaks to retired Navy SEAL Jimmy Hatch who was part of a classified U.S. military mission to rescue Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl.

They charge toward gunfire and attack men with explosives rigged to their bodies. Dogs saved the life of veteran Navy Seal Jimmy Hatch. The Purple Heart recipient is bringing his mission to help dogs to Cincinnati.


Jones is one of 18 Cincinnati police canines, he's a patrol and SWAT dog.

"We as police officers live by wearing our vests, sending these guys without any vest," said Officer John Neal.