K9 PTSD Center

05/31/2026

It is our policy not to post EOW K9s here at the Center. But today, we make an exception for a hero who was never just part of our story — he helped shape it.

For the last seven years, K9 Kato served as our ambassador. He carried himself with quiet strength, courage, loyalty, and grace. He represented everything this Center stands for, and everything we fight for every day. All of the heroes in our care are special, and each one leaves a piece of themselves with us. But Kato left something even deeper. He left his pawprints on our hearts.

Today, the State and the country mourn the loss of a remarkable K9 who fought until the very end with all the heart he had. Kato gave so much in his lifetime — through his service, his presence, his resilience, and the comfort he brought simply by being near. He reminded us that these heroes are more than working dogs. They are partners, protectors, family, and souls who change the lives of everyone blessed to know them.

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to K9 Sergeant David Aguiar for providing K9 Kato with his final ride. That final act of honor, dignity, and respect meant more than words can ever fully express.

Thank you, K9 Kato, for the love you gave, the lives you touched, and the strength you showed us every single day. Thank you for making this world better, gentler, and brighter just by being in it.

Your star is free now to watch over us from above.

Rest easy, Your mission here is complete.

We will take it from here.



EOW 05/31/26
Rehoboth K9 Edo

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to honor the Military Working Dogs who served our country with courage, loyalty, and sacrifice.

These K9 heroes walked into danger, stood beside their handlers, detected threats, protected lives, and carried the weight of service with a devotion only a dog can give.

Thanks to Robby’s Law, passed in 2000, today’s Military Working Dogs have the chance to return home after their service. No heroes left behind.

Here at the K9 PTSD Research Center, we are honored to care for these heroes after the mission is over. Their service may be complete, but their need for compassion, healing, and respect continues.

To every Military Working Dog who served — we remember your courage, we honor your sacrifice, and we are grateful for the legacy you leave behind.

Never forgotten. Always honored.

05/03/2026

Criminals Don’t Stand a Chance

We are proud to release the second video in our K9 Hero License Plate video series, featuring K9 Maverick and K9 Officer Luis Pacheco from the great town of Dudley, Massachusetts.
This video is a fun reminder of something very serious: our K9 teams are out there every day protecting our communities, serving with courage, loyalty, and heart.

A huge thank you to K9 Maverick, Officer Pacheco, and the Town of Dudley for being part of this project and helping us continue to honor the K9 heroes who serve across the Commonwealth.
And to all of our amazing K9 Hero License Plate supporters — thank you. Your support made this program possible. Every plate represents love, respect, and gratitude for the heroes on four legs who stand beside those who protect us.

Stay tuned — more videos are coming.

Support the paws that enforce the laws. 🐾🇺🇸



K-9 Maverick DPD
State Representative Steve Xiarhos
Carlos Gonzalez State Representative
State Representative Justin Thurber
Senator Kelly Dooner
Steven Howitt for State Representative
Denise Morency Gannon

04/21/2026

There are moments when thank you does not feel big enough.

Today, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the extraordinary team at Bay State Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Services Hospital. In just the last two months, they helped save the lives of three of our heroes — K9 Boomah, K9 Zack, and K9 Kato.

These heroes have given their strength, their loyalty, and their hearts in service. When they were in need, Bay State Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Services was there with unmatched compassion, brilliance, urgency, and care. Because of that care, K9 Boomah is coming home today and doing well.

That means everything.

We trust Bay State Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Services with the lives of our heroes because they continue, time and time again, to show an extraordinary level of compassion, skill, dedication, and heart. They do not just provide care — they fight for these heroes as if they were their own.

To the doctors, staff, and every hand that touched the lives of these heroes — thank you for fighting for them, for believing in them, and for treating them with the dignity and love they deserve. What you did was not just medicine. It was lifesaving mercy for heroes who have spent their lives protecting others.
Bay State Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Services, you did not just help save K9 Boomah, K9 Zack, and K9 Kato.

You gave hope back to all of us who love them.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being the these heroes are still with us.

04/19/2026

Today, we are proud to share the first video in our four-part series, with this first feature shining on K9 Sergeant David Aguiar and K9 Edo.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to K9 Sergeant David Aguiar, K9 Edo, and the Town of Rehoboth, Massachusetts for welcoming us into their beautiful town and hosting us as we filmed this special promotion for the K9 Hero License Plates.

This first video is all about honoring David and Edo, while also helping tell the larger story of the K9 heroes who serve our communities with courage, loyalty, and heart.

We are deeply grateful to the Town of Rehoboth for helping us bring this project to life in such a meaningful setting.

Video one begins with David and Edo. Four videos. One mission. Honor the heroes.



Rehoboth K9 Edo
State Representative Steve Xiarhos
Carlos Gonzalez State Representative
Denise Morency Gannon
Senator Kelly Dooner
State Representative Justin Thurber
Steven Howitt for State Representative
Cape Cod Realtor Lori Jurkowski

04/17/2026

To ABC News Chronicle out of Boston, thank you for telling this story with such heart, dignity, and compassion. You did more than cover a story — you helped give a voice to the heroes who have served in silence for far too long.
And to the Representatives who fought to help pass Dakota’s Law — thank you. Thank you for seeing the value of these incredible K9 heroes. Thank you for standing up for what is right. Thank you for helping make sure these dogs are not forgotten once their service is over.
These K9s gave everything they had — their courage, their loyalty, their strength, and their hearts. They stood beside us in danger, in fear, and in service without ever asking for anything in return. Dakota’s Law is about finally giving something back.
This is more than legislation. This is love. This is honor. This is promise kept for the heroes who gave us their all.
We are beyond grateful to everyone who helped bring this moment forward. Thank you for believing in these heroes. Thank you for helping their stories be heard. And thank you for making sure their service will never be forgotten.

Chronicle on WCVB Channel 5
State Representative Steve Xiarhos
Carlos Gonzalez State Representative
Steven Howitt for State Representative
State Representative Justin Thurber
Senator Kelly Dooner
Cape Cod Realtor Lori Jurkowski
Denise Morency Gannon
K9 Flexx and Retired/Police K9 Mr. Warner.
Rehoboth K9 Edo

The K-9 PTSD Research Center offers healing and a permanent home.

04/06/2026

Right now, one of our heroes is in the fight of his life.

K9 Kato is in the hospital, fighting with everything he has, and our hearts are with him. These incredible K9s give us their courage, their loyalty, and their whole heart in service. They stand beside us on our hardest days, ask for nothing in return, and give everything they have to protect and serve.

Please keep K9 Kato in your thoughts and prayers tonight. Leave a message for him here. We will read every single one to K9 Kato so he can feel the love, strength, and support being sent his way.

Stay strong, Kato. We are praying for you, we are thinking of you, and we are all standing with you in this fight. 🐾❤️ Thank you Cape Cod Realtor Lori Jurkowski for all your love and support.

03/13/2026

🇺🇸🐾 Happy K9 Veterans Day — Featuring Graduate K9 Drago! 🎓🐾

Today we celebrate K9 Veterans Day, honoring the four-legged heroes who served beside our military and law enforcement with courage, loyalty, and a nose that somehow always finds trouble (or snacks).

Today’s spotlight goes to Military Working Dog K9 Drago, who has officially graduated Observation Quarantine here at the K9 PTSD Research Center! 🎉

Drago arrived with a résumé that’s mostly classified… which basically means if he told you what he did, he’d probably have to stare at you awkwardly until you walked away. Let’s just say this dog has been places most of us only see in action movies.

After a period of observation, decompression, and plenty of well-earned naps, Drago has officially passed his quarantine phase with flying colors. His current mission profile includes:
• Advanced couch surveillance 🛋️
• Tactical tennis ball recovery 🎾
• Highly classified snack detection operations 🍖

Like many K9 veterans, Drago gave his strength and courage in service to this country. Now his mission is simple: healing, play, peace, and the retirement every K9 hero deserves.

Please join us in saying Congratulations to K9 Drago on graduating quarantine and beginning his next chapter.

And today, on K9 Veterans Day, we salute all the K9 heroes who served beside our troops and officers.

Because heroes come in many forms…

…and most of them have four legs and a nose that never clocks out. 🐾🇺🇸

02/25/2026

Welcome home, Military K9 Hero — K9 Drago 🐾🇺🇸

Today, a hero comes home.

K9 Drago, a Military Working Dog and Explosive Detection Dog, served this country with a level of courage most of us will never fully understand. Much of his service remains classified, and we may never know all the places he went, all the danger he faced, or all the lives he helped save.

But we do know this:
He served.
He sacrificed.
He carried out his mission with loyalty, courage, and a heart that never quit.

K9 Drago stood in places where fear lived. He walked forward when every step mattered. He gave his strength to protect others, asking for nothing in return.

And now… he is home.

Today we also want to thank the U.S. Military for recognizing canine Post-Traumatic Stress (C-PTSD) in our four-legged heroes and for helping make healing possible. That matters more than words can say, because these dogs are not equipment. They are not disposable. They are heroes. They feel. They carry stress. They carry memories. And they deserve compassion, care, and peace after all they have given.

From this day forward, K9 Drago’s mission is no longer service in the field.

His mission is healing.

His mission is learning that he is safe.
That he is loved.
That he can rest.
That the hard days are behind him.

His mission is soft beds, quiet mornings, open space to run, gentle hands, play, and the kind of peace every retired K9 hero deserves.

Dogs like Drago do more than protect us.
They change us.

They teach us loyalty.
They teach us courage.
They teach us how to love without conditions.

They stand beside us in our darkest moments and somehow make the world feel less heavy.

Welcome to your next watch, K9 Drago.

You gave this country everything you had.
Now it is our turn to give you a life filled with comfort, dignity, and love. ❤️🐶🇺🇸

Military Dog Handlers
Military Working Dog Team Support Association, Inc.
Military & LEO Working Dogs

01/30/2026

They ran toward danger so we didn’t have to.
They served without fear, without hesitation, without a voice.
How we treat our K9 heroes after service says everything about us.
They gave everything. They deserve protection in return.
This is why Dakota’s Law matters. 🐾💙

State Representative Steve Xiarhos
Massachusetts Police Work Dog Association
Steven Howitt for State Representative
Senator Kelly Dooner
K9 Flexx and Retired/Police K9 Mr. Warner.
Rehoboth K9 Edo
City of Salem Police Department K-9
Massachusetts State Police
Webster Police K9 Unit
Fairhaven Police Department K9 Unit
Boston Police Department (Official)