Celebrating Success: The Placement of K9 Support Dogs
Celebrating Success: Support K9 Program
Since the launch of our pilot program in November 2021, we have celebrated the successful placement of 36 Support K9s. Their placements include law enforcement agencies and emergency response organizations throughout California and across the country, as well as the United States Border Patrol. The goal of a Support K9 is to offer a supportive, approachable, non-judgmental therapeutic presence for professional team members and those they serve.
At Guide Dogs of the Desert, each dog is evaluated to determine if being a guide dog is the right career choice. For some dogs, an alternative career path is a better fit for their skill sets and personalities. For those dogs, our Support K9 program is another option. Each dog has received the training foundation preparing them for service work, giving them a distinct advantage and aptitude for success in this role.
| Dog Name | Breed/Gender | DOB | Agency | Date of Placement | |
| 1 | Dotsky | BLF | 7/13/2020 | City of Redondo beach | 12/7/2021 |
| 2 | Leailani | BLF | 8/31/2020 | City of Redondo Beach | 12/7/2021 |
| 3 | Willow | SPF | 1/26/2020 | Center against Sexual Assault | 2/10/2022 |
| 4 | Jiggy | GLM | 11/8/2020 | Palm Springs Police Dept. | 2/11/2022 |
| 5 | Daisy | YLF | 10/19/2020 | La Mesa Fire dept. | 3/3/2022 |
| 6 | Nellie | BLF | 4/12/2020 | Garden Grove Police Department | 3/19/2022 |
| 7 | Noah | BLM | 3/24/2021 | Torrance Fire | 5/31/2022 |
| 8 | Augie | SPM | 3/30/2017 | Riverside county District attorney | 6/7/2022 |
| 9 | Albert T | SPM | 8/19/2019 | Irvine Police Dept. | 6/9/2022 |
| 10 | Paula | SPF | 4/8/2021 | Elite k9 Training | 6/12/2022 |
| 11 | Darling | YLF | 7/2/2021 | Beverly Hills Dept. | 7/12/2022 |
| 12 | Blake | BLM | 2/7/2021 | Herman & Alicia Lopez | 7/13/2022 |
| 13 | Gracie | SPF | 6/25/2020 | Buddy Up k9 | 7/28/2022 |
| 14 | Jack | BLM | 5/3/2019 | City of Irvine | 8/10/2022 |
| 15 | Ronnie | BLM | 8/31/2020 | Irvine Police Dept. | 8/23/2022 |
| 16 | Brinley | SPF | 1/26/2020 | El Centro Police Dept. | 9/6/2022 |
| 17 | Hoku | GLF | 11/8/2020 | Ventura County Fire | 10/28/2022 |
| 18 | Cole | YLM | 11/21/2020 | Culver city police Dept. | 10/31/2022 |
| 19 | Katie | SPF | 4/8/2021 | OKCPD 911 Com. | 11/15/2022 |
| 20 | Cooper | BLM | 4/5/2021 | Laguna Beach Police Department | 12/7/2022 |
| 21 | Simpson | LGXM | 11/9/2020 | Murrieta Police Dept | 1/10/2023 |
| 22 | Gene | BLM | 6/13/2022 | United states border patrol | 1/20/2023 |
| 23 | Janet | BLF | 6/13/2022 | United states border patrol | 1/20/2023 |
| 24 | Jackie | YLF | 11/21/2020 | United states border patrol | 1/21/2023 |
| 25 | Chappie | SPM | 6/25/2020 | United states border patrol | 1/22/2023 |
| 26 | Willy | CLM | 2/14/2016 | Mission Basilica School | 2/26/2023 |
| 27 | Rudder | BLM | 3/12/2022 | Littleton Police Department | 4/5/2023 |
| 28 | Shayne | SPM | 7/9/2015 | Weslaco Police Department | 4/24/2023 |
| 29 | Max | YLM | 10/20/2020 | City of Ontario Fire Department | 5/1/2023 |
| 30 | Lulu | SPF | 4/4/2020 | City of Riverside | 5/19/2023 |
| 31 | Dior | SPM | 4/27/2021 | Recovery Frist Treatment Centers for First Responders | 6/16/2023 |
| 32 | Dinah | SPF | 6/19/2021 | Riverside County District Attorney’s Office | 12/14/2023 |
| 33 | Avery | BLF | 7/2/2021 | United states border patrol | 2/7/2024 |
| 34 | Morgan | SPF | 6/19/2021 | United states border patrol | 2/7/2024 |
| 35 | Syble | SPF | 1/13/2021 | United states border patrol | 2/7/2024 |
| 36 | Jake | SPM | 4/14/2022 | United states border patrol | 2/7/2024 |