Fall Local Living 2023

Fall Local Living—31 Jason Johnson, founder of the nonprofit Project K-9 Hero is pic- tured with retired K-9 Yoube, the organization’s national ambas- sador at the Project K-9 facility in Marion County, Tennessee. Project K-9 Hero founder Jason Johnson is pictured at the facility with a retired K-9 currently housed at the nonprofit’s Marion County headquarters. K9 (Continued from page 30) program that were shot in the line of duty and things. While that department may take care of them for that initial surgery, those long effects that they can have for years could last forever.” Other health problems could very well be the result of the service the dog provided to its country, he said. “While I am not a scientist or a doctor I think logic would tell you that they are exposing their body to harm by doing their job,” Johnson said. “I think it is an important job and I think they save American lives but I also feel that they deserve to be taken care of.” Johnson said that when he was looking for a permanent home for Project K-9 Hero he had some boxes that had to be checked. “I wanted to be centrally located, I wanted a state that really thought well of police and military, which Tennessee did that,” he said. “We ended up here in Marion County because we have 177 acres that we purchased at 2,500 per acre. If you look at the beauty of this land and you have the walking trails. You are not really going to find 177 acres at the price we did in most states.” Johnson said he is still trying to grow Project K-9 Hero, and is in the process of building a new rehabilitation and rehoming facility that he says once it is completed, will be the nicest of its kind in the country. “We are really looking for corporate partners and sponsor- ships,” he said. “People want to help a dog, we really need a cor- porate partners who wants to put their name on the building and we have been seeking some government funding as well. I think to find a partner who wants to put their name on it is probably our best bet.” Johnson said there are plans for a $5-8 million facility that would not only bring jobs to the community, but also be a home for some of the nation’s most respected and trusted police and military K-9s. While Project K-9 Hero does receive requests for volunteers and adoptions, Johnson said it is difficult to allow volunteers on- site and there is a limited number of people that have the skillset needed to take care of a retired K-9. “I can tell you we have about 1,000 adoption applications and only about 1% of people are actually qualified to adopt one of our dogs,” Johnson said. “It is a situation where first you need some experience with a working dog. You don’t necessarily have to be a handler but you need to know the breed and the drive and how to manage them and not everyone knows how to do that.” Many of the dogs do not get along with other animals or children he said, and require a large secure area for exercise, he said. To date, Project K-9 Hero has accepted 241 dogs into its program and is committed to adding 52 to its program each year. Johnson said the best way someone can help Project K-9 Hero make a difference is by making a donation or purchasing an item from its online store at www.projectk9hero.org .