Colorado loves dogs, especially law enforcement agencies that call upon K-9s for assistance.
Twenty Colorado agencies came together on Wednesday at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum to both honor the work their furry friends do and help raise funds for new dog-related equipment — and possibly more dogs — at the annual Heroes With Paws event.
Ticket buyers were able to pet pups and see demonstrations of what police K-9s do, like suspect apprehension, narcotics identification and police protection. Silent auctions and donations were held.
The Heroes With Paws event was created in 2018 as a way to garner funds for K-9 items like bullet proof vests, harnesses, leashes and first-aid kits — things that sometimes aren't funded or budgeted within law enforcement agencies.
"Back in 2018, we thought, let's have a little cocktail party and let's invite a couple of dogs and educate the public about what law enforcement does and what they need as far as help," said Darby Kelly, co-founder of Heroes With Paws.
"We want to keep our dogs safe. That was our mission when we first started," she added.
The first event included three agencies and seven dogs. Now, the event has grown into a full pack of dogs lighting up the museum with tail wags and curious sniffs.
"I never thought we would have it like it is today," Kelly said of the growth. "I never in my wildest dreams could say we have 20 agencies, nearly 60 dogs and over 200 guests."
"Just to see the way people care about dogs is amazing," said Officer Shawn Henslee, the handler for the Golden Police Department's K-9 Unit with his K-9 partner, Mao. "We know that's what the program's about, raising money for canines. It's cool to be a part of it."
"It's awesome to educate people. People think that these dogs are just meant to bite and apprehend suspects. They're locating tools. They're great," said Officer Chris Whyte of the Golden Police Department.
The work that the K-9s do and the danger they are put in is appreciated by both the law enforcement agencies and the state.
For example, House Bill 24-1074, Aggravated Cruelty to Law Enforcement Animals, was signed and became effective in April 2024. The bill created a Class 4 felony charge for someone who "knowingly or recklessly" kills or harms a law enforcement animal badly enough to put it out of commission for at least three months.
The bill came on the heels of HB 23-1286, which was enacted in 2023, that created a Class 4 felony for harming or killing police or service animals, punishable by up to six years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
Whyte also expressed his appreciation for police dogs after an incident in 2023 in which a K-9 sacrificed his life to save multiple officers.
On Feb. 12, 2023, Golden police — along with campus police at the Colorado School of Mines and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office — were pursuing a drunk-driving suspect near the campus.
Whyte and other officers stopped his vehicle in the middle of the road. The suspect then rammed patrol cars and took off, running down the street.
The suspect pulled a handgun on Whyte, stopping the pursuit. Whyte contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for assistance, with the department bringing out their K-9, Graffit.
Graffit and crew tracked the suspect onto the campus. The dog began letting the officers know that the suspect was nearby as they climbed a hill. Graffit was shot and killed at the top of the hill before the officers got there.
"The suspect, later on in an interview, admitted he was waiting for us to cross the hill. He was going to shoot and kill us all," Whyte said. "Graffit paid the ultimate price and took the bullet for us that night."
"I was truly blessed that night. If it wasn't for Graffit, I'd be six feet under right now," Whyte added, pointing out the memorial bracelet he wears honoring the German Shepard.
The officer noted that the Golden Police Department does not have much funding for the K-9 unit, which only consists of Mao. That's why, to him, fundraisers like Heroes With Paws are so important.
Professionally trained K-9s are rare, with around 1% of trained dogs actually making the cut, Whyte said. Those special canines can cost around $23,000.
"These dogs are crucial to our safety and community safety," Whyte said.
Stephen Edmonds, a donor who has been attending the event since its inception, added: "Overall, they've expanded what the dogs are doing. At first, it was just apprehension. But now, they're so much more active in the schools and doing other kinds of work like identifying gunpowder. It's something I support. The animals can do things in some cases that people can't do."
"We're dog lovers," Adrienne Ruston Fitzgibbons said. "We find it fascinating. It's good to know where my money is going. Their safety and their handlers are just wonderful."
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