MEDIA & PRESS

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• Euclid to be gifted new K-9 dubbed ‘Chinook’ in memory of fallen officer

  •       After Euclid Police Officer Jacob Derbin died in the line of duty last year, the members over at the “Veterans & First Responders Foundation” wanted to find a way to honor him while, at the same time, serving the public. The foundation noted that Derbin had hoped to become a K-9 police officer, just like his father. Because of that...

    •       https://www.news-herald.com/

• New Euclid police K9 honors officer killed in line of duty

  •     Not long after Derbin’s death, David Knott, founder of the Veterans and First Responders (VFR) organization, requested a meeting with a few leaders in the Euclid Police Department to discuss a way to honor the officer.

    •     https://www.cleveland.com

• Fallen Ohio Officer’s Dream Lives On Through K9 Tribute

  • Just weeks after an Ohio Police Officer was ambushed and killed in the line of duty, the Veterans and First Responders Foundation honored his dream of becoming a K9 handler by donating a new police dog to the department, continuing a legacy shared with his father.

    • lawenforcementtoday.com

• Veterans & First Responders Foundation Provides life-saving devices to local fire departments; donations sought

  • BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- Thermal imaging devices, advanced heat-sensing tools that aid firefighters in detecting and navigating through hazardous environments to ultimately help save lives, are prized by fire departments.

    • ​Cleveland.com | Mar 5, 2025 

• Veterans and First Responders Foundation donates to Lake, Cuyahoga county fire departments

  • VFR donated thermal imaging devices to Lake and Cuyahoga county fire departments.

    • The News Herald | Mar 5, 2025 

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• Veterans & First Responders Foundation donates thermal imaging devices to local fire departments​​

  • VFR donated thermal imaging devices to three local fire departments.

    • FreshWater  | Feb 26, 2025 

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• Former Branson K9 officer given award​​

  • A former Branson K9 officer has been given an award which will provide his needs for the rest of his life.

    • bransontrilakesnews.com  | Mar 22, 2024 

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• Retired K-9 Gifted Guardian Award

  • Ed Hunziker made a bond for life on April 10, 2012, exactly one year to the day Rotar was born.
    
    A German Shepard and Belgian Malinois mix imported from Europe, Rotar was assigned to him as his K-9 partner at the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office.

    • geaugamapleleaf.com​

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• Veterans & First Responders Foundation opens therapeutic facility in Mentor​​

  • Despite having never served in the military or as a first responder, David Knott wanted to give back to those who serve after their final watch, tour of duty or shift.​

    • cleveland.com | Feb 28, 2024

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• VFR Foundation’s Howling Heroes Supports Retired K-9s​​

  • K-9 Kubo from Greater Cleveland RTA awarded K-9 Guardian Award

    • patch.com | Feb 27, 2024

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• K-9 Arko receives financial award from the Veterans and First Responders (VFR) Foundation's Howling Heroes division

  • ​The Veterans and First Responders (VFR) Foundations Howling Heroes division awarded K-9 First Responder Arko from Ashtabula the K-9 Guardian Award, which will provide Arko’s family with $5,000 per year for medical and wellness expenses.

    • ​starbeacon.com | Feb 24, 2024

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• VFR Foundation’s Howling Heroes Awards New Retired Service Dog

  • ​K-9 Guardian Award, presented to service dog Lyka, provides funds for canine care

    • patch.com | Feb 20, 2024 

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• Retired Lorain police K-9 Titan honored with award from Veterans and First Responders Foundation

  • A retired Lorain Police Department K-9 is among those receiving the Guardian Award from the Veterans and First Responders Foundation’s Howling Heroes division.

    • themorningjournal | Feb 19, 2024 

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• Howling Heroes aims to keep retired K-9s and officers together

  • ​Thanks to the VFR, short for Veterans and First Responders, Arko’s upcoming surgery to remove a tumor on his paw will be covered for free.

    • ​fox8.com | Jan 25, 2024 

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• Howling Heroes honors retired military and police dogs with financial support in retirement   ​

  • Veterans and First Responders Foundation believes no police or military K9 handlers should have to part with their retired dogs because they can't afford their care.

    •    wkyc.com | Jan 17, 2024

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• Northeast Ohio K9s/ police dogs rewarded after retiring

  • But thanks to Knott’s VFR foundation, headquartered in Mentor, its Howling Heroes program provides the K9 Guardian Awards which helps canines like Loki’s handler from the Willoughby Police Department continue to live with and care for Loki “until the very end,” Knott said. 

    • WJW-TV (Cleveland, OH) | Dec 9, 2023 

 

• See how these local retired police dogs are rewarded

  • But thanks to Knott’s VFR foundation, headquarted in Mentor, it’s Howling Heroes program provides the K9 Guardian Awards which helps canines like Loki’s handler from the Willoughby Police Department continue to live with and care for Loki “until the very end,” Knott said. 

    • WJW-TV (Cleveland, OH) | Dec 9, 2023 

 

• Howling Heros: David Knott ensures retired K-9 first responders remain with their human partners

  • The pride Knott feels in the members of his family, as well as the men and women who put their lives on the line to help others, led him 10 years ago to start the Veterans and First Responders (VFR) Foundation to provide therapeutic resources, innovative programming, and healing support. 

    • FreshWater  | Dec 6, 2023 

 

• Willoughby police officer receives K-9 Guardian Award

  • I am very grateful for the (VFR) foundation and hope they expand and help more and more K-9 families.” Loki’s replacement, Zaro, was being readied for service as retirement approached. 

    • The News-Herald (Willoughby, OH) | Dec 5, 2023​​​​​