K9 PTSD Center

06/18/2026

🐾 Exciting Announcement from the K9 PTSD Research Center 🐾

The K9 PTSD Research Center is honored and excited to announce that our research on norepinephrine/adrenaline studies in working K9s was invited to be presented at the Vancouver Canine Conference, introducing this important work to the canine world.

This research is significant because it focuses on developing non-invasive testing methods to measure stress levels in K9s through urine testing. Better understanding stress markers in working dogs strengthens the health, treatment, and long-term care of Police, Military, and other working K9s suffering from trauma and stress-related conditions.

Our work also supports the growing understanding that C-PTSD in K9s is a real, diagnosable condition—one that deserves recognition, compassion, and proper care. With early intervention, appropriate treatment, and continued research, the quality of life for affected K9s can be significantly improved.

We are truly honored to have been accepted to present this research and grateful for the opportunity to share our work with the broader canine community.

🐕‍🦺 Advancing science. Protecting K9 heroes. Giving them the voice they deserve.

06/16/2026

At our center, we see the quiet battles many of these heroes carry long after their service ends. They have stood beside our military and Police, protected lives, searched dangerous places, and faced situations most of us can’t imagine. Just like people, they can carry trauma.
And often, that suffering takes place in silence.
They cannot explain what haunts them. They cannot tell us what memories keep them restless, fearful, guarded, or withdrawn. Their pain may show up in anxiety, fear responses, nightmares, hypervigilance, trust issues, or sudden changes in behavior. These are not signs of weakness or disobedience. They are signs of what these heroes have endured.
Some may choose to deny its existence, dismiss the symptoms, or act like these dogs should simply “get over it.” But anyone who has worked closely with them knows the truth. Trauma does not disappear just because it is unseen, unspoken, or misunderstood.
These heroes gave their loyalty, courage, and service without question. The least we can do is give them patience, understanding, care, and respect.
To those who refuse to acknowledge canine PTSD: denial does not make suffering disappear. Compassion does.

It’s not who you live for… It’s who you’d die for. Watch Brad Pitt ...

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.