Spike's K9 Fundheld a three-day Tracker School, offered for free to participants. Members of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, including Officer Ryan Coll and his partner K9 Diesel took part.
"Our main purpose is to go out and apprehend these suspects who've escaped, or gone into the woods," said Officer Coll.
Coll and Diesel have been paired for about three years, working together for the past two.
"I spend more time with this dog than I do my wife and kids," Coll said.
The duo was one of about 15 participating in the training class on Thursday.
In life, you can either let circumstance define you or you can choose to define it.
You may remember the story of K9 Krijger who was shot and killed during a standoff with an armed suspect in January. While the loss devastated the Norfolk PD and law enforcement community as a whole, it spawned the start of something incredible.
Spike’s K9 Fund made a decision to give working dogs the protection they need. The result was the start of the Krijger Ballistic Vest Campaign. Some serious benefactors came forward to help, one of which was CNN anchor Anderson Cooper.
Now, almost exactly 7 months since Krijger’s passing, ALL of his fellow Norfolk K9’s have been outfitted with a custom-fit K9 Storm Patrol Swat Vest through Spike’s K9 Fund. Krijger’s handler, Ofc. McNiff, has a new partner too. His name is A.C., a tribute to Anderson Cooper for his generosity in helping jump-start the Krijger Ballistic Vest Campaign. Pictured above you will see A.C. beside a memorial for Krijger, proudly wearing his K9 Storm Vest.
Krijger was amazing and his memory will not be forgotten. The dog who lost his life is now watching over others with the ability to protect themselves. Each vest donated by Spike’s is emblazoned with “K-148”, Krijgers badge number.
We couldn’t be happier for Spike’s K9 Fund and the entire McNiff family on their perseverance the last few months. There isn’t a more deserving group and their story is a true testament that no matter what the circumstance, they are the ones who control what happens next.
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.
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.
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.