Neighbor News
VFR Foundation’s Howling Heroes Awards New Retired Service Dog
K-9 Guardian Award, presented to service dog Lyka, provides funds for canine care
Veterans and First Responders (VFR) Foundation’s Howling Heroes division presents canine Lyka with the K-9 Guardian Award, enabling her to remain with her owner and families. The K-9 Guardian Award will provide Lyka’s family with $5,000 per year for medical and wellness expenses such as office visits, prescriptions, accidents or illnesses, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and ultimately cremation services.
“VFR is happy to present Lyka and her family with the K-9 Guardian Award,” says Dave Knott, Founder of VFR foundation. “The number of lives that she saved in the line of duty and her immense bravery is immeasurable. She deserves to be financially provided for, and to stay with her handler and family.”
Lyka, a member of the National Explosives Canine Team Program, worked events across the United States. She has served at several high-level security events such as Super Bowls LIII, LVI, and the 2021 Presidential Inauguration. Lyka has also been assigned to several Presidential motorcades. Most of her time in active duty was spent at the Buffalo Airport.
“Lyka, along with many other service dogs across the nation, are the first line of defense in many life-threatening situations,” says Knott. “They deserve a chance to live out their retirement with the service men and women that they worked so closely with in the line of duty. We know that our job is far from over, and our goal is to reward many other service dogs for their heroism.”
Grants, corporate support and individual support is needed. To help support other Howling Heroes, please visit the VFR Foundation Website.
About Howling Heroes
Howling heroes is a charitable fundraising service offered for others to make charitable contributions which are then used to purchase equipment, train, provide veterinary and medical care, and financial assistance for retired military K-9s and police K-9s.
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About Veterans & First Responders Foundation
The Veterans & First Responders Foundation exists to provide the support that First Responders, Veterans, Military, K-9s and their families need to live the fulfilling lives they deserve. Through best-in-class programming, resources, methods, and technologies, our nation’s heroes can process trauma, stay connected, and start to heal. We maintain a dedicated focus on mental health services and support such as wellness evaluations, therapy sessions, counseling to address depression and anxiety, and much more.
Our name — VFR — is an expression of our gratitude.
V = The Valor of the men and women who serve.
F = The Freedom they fight, and sometimes die, for.
R = The Respect they embody, and that we proudly send back in their direction.