Wisconsin Police Injured K9 Retirement Foundation

05/27/2024

Remembering those who fought for our freedoms on this Monday. Thank you to all our veterans, and those who are active still, both human and K9 🐾🇺🇸🐾

05/12/2024

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mom’s of the humans and pet babies.
***Borrowed from BTBK9F***

05/10/2024

The official post from K9 Bane’s department, St. Francis Police Department.
Run free with those that went before you K9 Bane, thank you for your service 🐾💔🐾

05/10/2024

Please keep Detective McManus and her family, along with all those who loved K9 Bane in your prayers as Bane is now in his new body, healthy and running free 🐾🌈🐾
K9 Bane was the first K9 we were able to raise funds for and only the third Wisconsin K9 I had met.
Here are some photos collected from our times together ranging from May 2022 to the late spring/early summer of 2023. A couple of Bane in water therapy that your generous donations helped in supporting.

Detective McManus, thank you for sharing K9 Bane’s journey with us. For educating about Degenerative Myelopathy, and for continuing to help other K9’s in their journey’s. K9 Bane’s village will always be here for you. Many prayers for peace with letting Bane cross over, for comfort in the coming days, weeks and months in knowing he’s healed now, and healing from all the hurt of his absence.

Fly high sweet Bane, thank you for your courage, bravery, lessons, and thank you for your services 🐾💔🐾

05/10/2024

Please keep Detective McManus and her family in your thoughts and prayers as K9 Bane is now watching over her in spirit.
Thank you so very much Holly, for sharing K9 Bane with us, for further educating on degenerative myelopathy, and for continuing to help other K9’s.
Fly high sweet boy, you were a WARRIOR to the end and will live on in everyone’s heart. Thank you for your service, thank you for everything K9 Bane 🐾💔🐾

05/05/2024

Awesome teamwork! K9 Chase was ready! Being from this area and knowing what’s ahead…my stomach was in knots there a few times! Glad everyone’s safe. Great teamwork Pleasant Prairie Police Department, Kenosha County Sheriff's Department, and Kenosha Police Department 🐾

04/14/2024

Please keep Sgt. Schiller, his family, and Department in your prayers as retired K9 Iron unexpectedly passed away. Thank you for your service K9 Iron, fly high sweet boy 🐾💔🐾

04/12/2024

💔💔💔 Please keep Deputy Forlenza and his family in your prayers during this time, this was not the news anybody wanted to see today.
Fly high sweet Dax, thank you for being one hell of a K9 and never hesitating to help. Thank you for your service, you will be deeply missed 🐾💔🐾

04/12/2024

Happy Birthday to K9 Riggs! We haven’t met a K9 we don’t love, but Riggs has my heart. He’s my hometown ‘county’ HERO!
We hope your day is filled with soaking up sun, playing, relaxing, and all the spoils and love a pup could ever hope for 🥳🐾🥳
…🥺 the last of his class…

04/09/2024

Please keep Officer Arvai, his family, department and community in your prayers. K-9 TITAN - retired passed away last night with his family by his side.
K9 Titan has helped so many and touched so many lives near and far. His work record and achievements are outstanding.
K9 Titan will be remembered and missed forevermore. Please pray for his family’s hearts to be able to soon retell his stories with laughter and smiles.
Thank you for your service K9 Titan, fly high sweet boy 💔🐾💔

04/09/2024

Happy Belated Birthday to K9 Kip 🥳🐾🥳

04/09/2024

Happy 3rd Birthday to K9 Ivy 🥳🐾🥳

Our Patrol K9, Ivy, turns 3 today! Join us in wishing her a very happy birthday! 🥳🎂🐾

04/09/2024

Congratulations to Deputy Dhondup Tsering and K9 Dorjee for successfully completing the single-purpose explosive detection portion of the North American Police Working Dog Association certification. This is a 6-week course that takes place in Sharpsville, PA. The duo is currently assigned to the County Regional Airport on 3rd shift.

04/09/2024

“They are one of us. They are instrumental in how we do policing” and how they would do anything in their power to try and save K9 Enzo’s life and make sure he was taken care of.
Why can’t every department do this? More are, but so many more need to catch up.
This brought me back to K9 Joker’s squad car, the marine’s shirt and pants soaked in K9 Joker’s blood (Tennessee). To K9 Huk when he was airlifted from his attack in Florida. To Donna telling me about our Wisconsin K9 Grendel from Fond du Lac, and K9 Iro, to Deputy Tifft’s voice in the squad with K9 Riggs…
Thankful for these K9’s to have done their job, and have pulled through their attacks 🐾

04/09/2024

Welcome Reggie to the Marshfield Police Department as their first Therapy Officer 🐾

NEW HIRE PUPDATE❗️🐶❗️🐶❗️

This one was hard to contain. Everyone, meet Reggie! Reggie is an 8-week-old Multigen Australian Labradoodle and will be the department's first ever therapy dog! Reggie comes to us by way of a very generous donation from Blueberry Cottage Labradoodles. We can't thank Heather and her team enough for this amazing opportunity. Reggie will be teaming up with SRO Klein in the schools to form the best dynamic duo since Batman & Robin!

Welcome to the force Reggie, you're going to do amazing things for our community!

04/09/2024

K9 Kota being sworn in! Welcome K9 Kota, stay safe 🐾

I K9 Kota pawsomly swear to do all my K9 duties!

More photos to come from the K9 Run and Walk to come. Enjoy the pre-view of the handsome K9 Kota being sworn into his duties.

Vernon County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit Program
Vernon County Sheriff's Office

04/09/2024

If you’re in southern Wisconsin, or just need an excuse for a road trip/day trip, April 10th is it!
Deputy Sheriff K9 Dax is retiring at the Libertyville Sheriff’s Patrol Division at 11am. Ceremony is outside and K9 Dax and Deputy Forlenza will be available for photographs afterwards 🐾

We certainly wish K9 Dax a great retirement and a huge turnout for his big day.

K9 Dax Retirement Ceremony

On April 10, 2024, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a retirement ceremony for Sheriff’s K9 Dax. The community is invited to join to send K9 Dax off into retirement and congratulate him on his ten years of dedicated service.

WHEN:
Wednesday, April 10th at 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:
Sheriff’s Patrol Division
1301 North Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville
(ceremony will be held outside)

Deputy Forlenza and K9 Dax will be available after the ceremony for photographs.

04/05/2024

Communities make K9 Units possible with all of their support 🐾

Big thanks to Burlo Pet Services for donating food monthly for Mav! Mav got to take a picture with the owner, Bruce, and the marketing manager.

04/05/2024

Sharing K9’s from out of state isn’t done often. The ones injured, or killed in the line of duty, I will probably share as do many K9 pages.
K9 Enzo made multiple headlines, and he’s home now.
I share this for the Handler. For the bond you see in this between them.
For the K9’s. To advocate and be a part of their voice. For their retirement years when they’re left with little to nothing.
K9 Enzo is a fighter, a WARRIOR who didn’t let evil win that day. I am thankful he is doing so well and we wish him the very best 🐾

04/05/2024

To start the weekend with a smile 🐾

04/05/2024

The look of enjoyment on K9 Murphy’s face. It’s Friday, everyone head into the weekend as content and happy as K9 Murphy 🐾

04/05/2024

K9 Boone is retiring and staying with the Reisner family while Deputy Reisner continues his career with Barron County Sheriff’s Office. Congratulations to you both 🐾

04/05/2024

Please keep Detective Kastner, his family, the department, and community in your prayers for comfort in the loss of K9 Addy. He was the first K9 with the department, had a very successful career and loved being at community events. He will surely be missed by many. Thank you for your services K9 Addy, fly high sweet boy 🐾💔🐾

04/05/2024

Are you a K9 supporter? Plushie collector? One or the other, even both?!? If so, and near the Hartford Police Department stop on in and add K9 Flash to your collection! By doing so you’ll be helping to support the needs of their working K9 Unit! They’ll be gone in a Flash though, so run on over as if K9 Flash was in hot pursuit of you 🐾

***Drive safe, no recklessness, no speeding! That’s NOT the way you want to meet Law Enforcement!***

04/05/2024

Please keep Officer Luis Lopes Serrao in your prayers for comfort and acceptance in the loss of Retired K9 Zander. K9 Zander will be missed by many in his community. Thank you for your service K9 Zander, fly high sweet boy 🐾💔🐾

04/04/2024

Bittersweet Congratulations to Lake County IL Sheriff's Office K9 Dax on retiring.
I’m so very thankful K9 Dax’s veterinarian staff has taken all precautions to give K9 Dax the best retirement possible, protecting him from further injuries from any other call.
My heart hurts knowing he was injured helping our good guys. He put his body in the line of action fighting for good and being a teammate-even across state lines.
We are thankful for you K9 Dax, and I love that the Sheriff “ordered” you handed over to your family. Congratulations on Retiring 🐾

Lake County Sheriff’s K9 Dax Retires

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office announces the retirement of K9 Dax.

K9 Dax joined the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in the spring of 20 15. K9 Dax was 13 months old when he joined the team. As the Lake County community has followed over the years, K9 Dax has thrived in his role as a police canine. K9 Dax and his partner, Deputy John Forlenza, have located over 400 missing endangered people or fleeing felons. He has hundreds of kilos of illegal drugs, millions of dollars seized, dozens of fi****ms discarded by offenders, dozens of seized vehicles, and has participated in hundreds of community and school demonstrations.

K9 Dax has received awards for:
2016 Illinois House of Representatives – General Assembly Award
2017 ASIS International (Illinois North Shore Chapter) – Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
2017 Chicago Crime Commission – Paws of Distinction Award
2018 K9s of Valor Foundation – K9 of the Year
2019 Lake County Board Special Recognition
2019 The 100 Club of Chicago – Valor Award
May 14, 2019 State of Illinois House of Representatives 101st General Assembly - House Resolution No. 872 offered by Representative Sam Yingling
2019 American Humane Hero Dog – Law Enforcement Winner
2019 Italian American Police Association – Officer of the Year
2022 State Senator Craig Wilcox – Certificate of Recognition
2022 Lake County Sheriff’s Office – Commendation Award
2022 Illinois Sheriff’s Association – Award of Merit
2023 Lake County Sheriff’s Office – The Sheriff’s Award of Valor
2023 Illinois Law Enforcement – Medal of Honor
2023 The German Shepherd Dog Club of America – Hero Dog Award

During Dax’s career with the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) he competed in several regional and national trials across the country. Dax has earned numerous top finishes in the areas of tracking, article searches, narcotics, suspect searches, and protection. Dax won six USPCA Regional Championships and earned two Tracking Exceptional Certifications.

K9 Dax has appeared in/on:
Numerous local and national news stations
People Magazine
Hero Dogs (Fox Nation)
American Humane’s Hero Dog (Hallmark Channel – Los Angeles, California)
Home and Family (Hallmark Channel – Los Angeles, California)
Access Daily (NBC – Los Angeles, California)
Today with Hoda & Jenna (NBC - New York, New York)
America’s Top Dog (A&E Network – Santa Clarita, California)
Dynamic K9 Duos (ESPN – Valdosta, Georgia)

On March 3, 2024, K9 Dax was injured while apprehending a person who had committed several felonies, and was fleeing. K9 Dax injured his neck and spine, which resulted in temporary paralysis to his hindquarters. K9 Dax was subsequently diagnosed with cervical and thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) and lumbosacral IVDD exasperated during his apprehension on March 3rd. K9 Dax went through intensive physical therapy following the injury, allowing him to regain the ability to walk and use his hind legs.

K9 Dax’s team of veterinarians determined that, for his physical wellbeing, he would not be able to return to active duty.

Sheriff John D. Idleburg has accepted K9 Dax’s official retirement request from Deputy Forlenza and ordered him to be turned over to Deputy John Forlenza, to enjoy his retirement. K9 Dax will undoubtedly miss going to work every day but will enjoy relaxing with Deputy Forlenza and his family.

Deputy John Forlenza said, “There is no way to quantify or properly express what Dax’s service has meant to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake County community, his supporters across the nation, and especially me. But I cannot refrain from stating that his service has been exemplary, and most importantly, he has saved countless lives, including my own. I am proud to have been his handler and best friend for the last nine years. Dax is a true hero and well deserving of the rest and love that waits for him in his retirement. I’d like to especially thank Dax’s supporters, team of veterinarians, trainers, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and my family and friends for all their support throughout his career.”

Sheriff John D. Idleburg said, “Deputy John Forlenza and K9 Dax exemplify what a true partnership looks like. They are among the top canine teams in the nation. There was virtually nothing K9 Dax couldn’t handle. He saved many lives throughout his career, apprehended some of the most violent offenders, and located major quantities of illegally trafficked drugs. On behalf of the men and women of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Lake County community, thank you, K9 Dax, for your dedication, your commitment, and your service to our community.”

A retirement ceremony will be announced at a future date.