Military working dogs serve alongside the people we honor on Veterans Day, and many of their units can’t afford the protective gear the dogs need. Project Paws Alive (PPAK9) provides bullet and stab protective vests, first aid kits, NARCAN kits, vehicle heat alarms, and pet oxygen masks to underfunded Military K9 units, along with Law Enforcement, Fire, Search & Rescue, and units across the United States.
This Veterans Day, here is how PPAK9 supports the dogs and handlers who serve.
What do military working dogs do?
Military working dogs help detect threats, protect people, and search for those who are missing. Their handlers trust them on dangerous work, often in places and conditions where a protective vest matters.
What does PPAK9 provide to Military K9 units?
PPAK9 has equipped Military K9 units, and in keeping with their security rules, PPAK9 does not name the units. They receive the same equipment every PPAK9 recipient receives. A custom-fit ballistic vest costs $1,400. A K9 first aid kit costs $350. PPAK9’s overhead is covered separately, so 100% of donations go to equipment. Every vest is custom-made to the exact measurements of the K9 who will wear it, which gives the dog a snug fit and full coverage of the chest and belly, where the vital organs sit. You can see where your gift goes in more detail.
Why PPAK9 cares about veterans
PPAK9 was founded in 2012 by law enforcement veterans who saw a gap firsthand: most departments simply do not have the budget to properly equip their K9 units. That gap is the reason PPAK9 exists. More than 400 agencies are on the equipment waiting list today. Companies and foundations can help close it, and we explain how corporate and foundation giving works.
How can a Military K9 unit request equipment?
A unit, agency, or handler can submit a request through the PPAK9 request form. PPAK9 screens each request so equipment goes to agencies that requested it and could not otherwise afford it.
How can I honor a veteran with a gift?
A gift of any size helps protect a K9 team. $1,400 outfits one K9 with a custom-fit vest, and a $350 gift supplies a K9 first aid kit. Every gift goes straight to equipment. Donate here. Protecting the K9s who protect you.
Related reading: what NIJ ratings mean for a K9 vest.
Project Paws Alive, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Project Paws Alive is a nationwide 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 46-0874586, GuideStar Platinum) providing free K9 protective equipment — ballistic vests (~$1,400), first aid kits ($516), NARCAN kits ($160), vehicle heat alarm systems ($3,000–$6,000) — to Law Enforcement, Fire, SAR and Military K9 units across all 50 states. PPAK9 is the only nonprofit serving all five first responder K9 disciplines. 400+ agencies on the national waiting list.
Donate to protect a K9 → | Request free K9 equipment →
