It’s a Wrap for Q1 of 2026!
Our president, Chris Willingham, takes a look back at the first three months of the year.
What’s going on, K-9 fam? It’s that time again where we look back and take stock of the last three months. It always provides me and the board with a welcome opportunity to see where our organization is going and how we can make improvements to provide an even greater depth of support to the K-9 community, which – let’s face it – is what we are all about! Let’s get into it…
Care for our K-9s
We really are thrilled to continue to see an upsurge in the numbers of handlers and families requesting our help – it means the word is continuing to spread and we love nothing more than stepping in and providing care when it’s needed most.
During Q1, we signed up 31 new RMWDs to our Rx program and spent $32,677.45 on medications for our K-9s. We helped 33 dogs with emergency surgeries and treatments, at a cost of $68,279.36.
We issued 5 MWD Service Awards, which also includes a retired MWD care package and the offer of a quality dog bed, should the family like one.
We continue to see a rise in families utilizing the Rainbow Bridge Assistance program, with 9 cases settled throughout Q1.
As always, we couldn’t continue our vital work of supporting our K-9 community without the generosity of our incredible supporters… Know that you are making a difference to the lives of RMWDs and their families across the country. Thank you – we are so blessed to have you here with us.
Spreading the Good Word of War Dogs
It’s been a busy few months for spreading the word about War Dogs and taking our mission out on the road. To that end, you can read all about the culmination of our 25th anniversary celebrations that took place back in January: Legacy Week, which aimed to pay forward some of the skills and experience our board members and extended network of K-9 legends can impart to the current and future generation of dog handlers. Click here to read all about it!
Taking to the Airwaves
Fellow board member Chuck Rotenberry and I were honored to be invited to join Joe Phillips on his new podcast, K9 Legends and Trailblazers, designed to capture stories from various perspectives across the K-9 community. Joe began his journey in the U.S. Air Force in 1996, becoming a dog handler in 1999 and quickly rising through one of the largest stateside kennels. His career took him from deployments in Kuwait and alongside the 101st Airborne Division after 9/11, to instructor roles at Lackland – including as one of the first instructors for the specialized search dog (SSD) program – and leadership positions shaping the next generation of K-9 teams.
Joe’s service extended beyond the Air Force, supporting Marine Corps programs, managing IED detection dog teams overseas and working alongside British counterparts in Afghanistan. After years of operational and training leadership, he continued his impact with TSA, overseeing more than 100 K-9 teams before retiring in 2025.
The mission of his podcast is to make sure the rich stories and life lessons are told – and the sacrifices behind them – are never forgotten. Thanks so much for including us, Joe!
RMWD Rider Reppin’ War Dogs
RMWD Rider was reppin’ for War Dogs and the K-9 community when he and his former handler and adoptive dad, Josh, were invited to enjoy the spotlight pre-game at the Pensacola Ice Breakers ice hockey game. They were invited out onto the ice before the game where Rider was acknowledged as Center Ice Hero. They spoke about Rider’s service and accomplishments and while Rider sported his US War Dogs MWD Service Medal, Josh was presented with a custom jersey each, from the team. Way to go, Rider!
K-9 Veterans Day
March brought with it one of the most significant dates in the K-9 calendar: K-9 Veterans Day. We were honored to be asked to play a part in the US Navy’s USS Bougainville K-9 Veterans Day events, which were executed simultaneously across the Pre-Commissioning Detachment in Norfolk, VA, and the Pre-Commissioning Unit in Pascagoula, MS. On the event, Captain Jimmie Jensen commented that it “was a monumental coordination effort. It would not have been possible without the seamless integration between our Bougainville Sailors, the U.S. War Dogs Association, the Marine Corps Working Dog Program, and our local Air Force and Navy installation teams.
“Because of your efforts, over 200 Sailors across two states were able to pause and reflect on our ship's deep historical connection to the K-9 community, specifically honoring the legacy of "Jack" and the Marine War Dog Platoon at the Battle of Bougainville.”
We recorded a film that laid out the history of illustrious service of MWDs, which was played at both events. We also helped coordinate a dog team demonstration to showcase the capabilities of our nation’s MWDs. Events like this only stand to strengthen the depth of understanding for what our K-9s bring to the fight. Thank you to the whole team at USS Bougainville for highlighting MWDs in this way.
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Happy 250th, America!
The celebration of 250 years of the US Military have kicked off in earnest and we were honored to be invited to the Museum of the Pacific Wars’ Stories of Service festival in Fredericksburg, TX. After giving a speech at the opening ceremony, fellow board member Aaron Stice and I manned a US War Dogs booth, which gave us the chance to make new friends and meet up with some familiar faces too.
Our Heartfelt Thanks
I can’t say this enough, but we really couldn’t continue to provide the range and reach of support for our MWDs without your treasured support. Whether you are buying swag from the War Dogs store, joining up as a War Dogs Guardian or making a donation to our fundraisers, we are so very grateful for your capacity to give to our cause. We are so lucky to have you as part of our K-9 family.
Thank you and until next time, K-9 leads the way!
