At DogWatch®, it’s our mission to keep pets safe. Every September, in honor of National Preparedness Month, we encourage pet parents to take steps now to help keep pets safe in the event of an emergency.

This September, DogWatch Inc. is launching a new program to help safeguard a special class of animals – Police K9s and other working dogs.

The DogWatch K9 Care Program™ provides Police K9 Units and other working dogs teams with K9 Medic Kits. These compact, specially designed kits give the dog’s handlers the critical tools needed to provide immediate first aid to their canines should they be injured in the line of duty.

The program was inspired by one of our DogWatch Dealers – Corrie Gizicki, owner/operator of DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan. Earlier this year, Corrie spotted a K9 Medic Kit from Dogworx at a pet expo and thought that the fully stocked kit would be a valuable tool for professional K9 handlers to carry with them on the job.

K9 Medic Kit sponsored by DogWatch

The K9 Medic Kits contain bandages, peroxide, clotting powder, tourniquets, syringes, nail trimmers, tick removal tools, and more. “There are 90 items in these kits, so they have everything covered,” says Gizicki.

In April 2024, DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan made their first donation of K9 Medic Kits to 14 Michigan State Police K9 Units. To her surprise, 7 officers and their canine partners showed up in person at their office in Brighton, Michigan to pick up the kits and thank Corrie and her team in person.

 

Gizicki’s donation inspired DogWatch’s Corporate Office to get involved and encourage similar donations to working dogs and their handlers across the country. Through the DogWatch K9 Care Program, DogWatch Inc. subsidizes the cost of the K9 Medic Kits to the DogWatch Dealer network, who in turn donate the kits to local police departments and other first responders in their community.

2024 DogWatch K9 Care Program recipients include:

Livingston County Jail K9s (donated by DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan)

DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan donates K9 Medics Kits to Livingston County Jail K9s.

Wayne County Airport Authority Police K9s (donated by DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan)

Wayne County Airport Authority Police K9s receive donation of K9 Medic Kits from DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan

Oakland County Sheriff Comfort K9s and Tracking K9s (donated by DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan)

 

 

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Avon Ohio Police K9 Units (donated by Justin Henry of DogWatch Hidden Fences of Greater Cleveland)

Justin Henry of DogWatch Hidden Fences of Cleveland donates K9 Medic Kits to Avon Ohio Police K9 Units.

Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office (donated by Teresa and Jason Nelson of DogWatch of Southern Minnesota)

Teresa and Jason Nelson of DogWatch of Southern Minnesota donate K9 Medic Kits to the • Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office

Chambersburg PA Police Department K9s (donated by Randy Perry of DogWatch by Perry Fence)

DogWatch by Perry Fence donates K9 medic kits to the Chambersburg PA Police Department K9s

Franklin County PA Sheriff’s Department K9s (donated by Randy Perry of DogWatch by Perry Fence)

Randy Perry donates K9 Medic Kit to Franklin County Sheriff’s Department

DogWatch Inc. encourages customers and pet parents in the United States and Canada to reach out your local police departments, search and rescue dog groups, and other working dog organizations to see if they need canine first aid kits. If they are in need, encourage them to to fill out the K9 Care Program Request Form. Or you can contact your local DogWatch® Dealer directly to suggest a donation.

“Not only do we take pride in keeping all the pups in our DogWatch Hidden Fence family safe at home, we work hard to make a difference in the community” says Gizicki. “An added thank you to all of the Police K-9 Units in our community for all you do. We appreciate you!”

DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan donates 14 K9 Medic Kits to Michigan State Police K9 Units.