Heroes With Paws Benefits Colorado K-9 Units

You have to love a fundraiser where the guests of honor are four-legged cuties ready for pats, some play and a belly rub from total strangers, but can go into serious work mode at the drop of a dog biscuit. It’s also nice to chat informally with the proud officers who guide their trusted K-9 partners as they face intricate and dangerous situations together as a team. Heroes With Paws is the perfect opportunity to interact with law enforcement and dog trainers, too, while learning more about what they do. It’s also a great time for a sincere thank you to the officers, as well as a: “You’re a good boy. Yes, you are!” to some special dogs.

Retired duo Randy Stein and Blitz…Blitz was a 2020 America’s Top Dog winner on A&E Network.

On Wednesday, Sept. 20, around 200 guests made their way to Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum to support the nonprofit that helps fund K-9 units around Colorado. A total of 14 law enforcement city, county and state agencies—including a unit that traveled from Colorado Springs—were on hand to show off their teams at a meet-and-greet reception and silent auction, followed by a number of demonstrations that ranged from drug searches to attack scenarios. It’s all in a day’s work for these extraordinary K-9 teams.

Gorgeous dog, ready for anything

Heroes with Paws partners with Back the Blue K-9 Force, a nonprofit that provides support for law enforcement K-9s. Back the Blue was created in 2016, and in 2018 Heroes with Paws became its signature event designed to showcase local law enforcement K-9s. Training for a dog can cost $20,000 and even up to $50,000, depending on the specialty involved. Money raised by Heroes With Paws goes to protective vests and supplies needed by the K-9s to do their jobs, costs that are usually unbudgeted and unfunded. For more information and to donate, go to: HeroesWithPaws.org.