Going To The Dogs - What A Great Year

Thank YOU For A Great Year!

Keep the Momentum Going


There Is A Special Place In Our Hearts for K9 Ram and Officer Ryan Sumner from Lenexa. K9 Ram Received Our First Vest Purchased

A s the holiday season is upon us and we look forward to a new year, the board members of Going To the Dogs would like to thank you for your incredible support. The past twelve months have been quite a ride and better than we could have imagined. There's no way we would have been able to do it without your generosity.

It's been a year of a lot of firsts. Whether it was our first charity event this past April, our first purchase of a K9 vest, or the funding of a new kennel for the backseat of a police car, none of it would have been possible without you and your donations.

With the monetary donations, attending our events, and volunteering to help when needed, it's been phenomenal. The enthusiasm from our supporters and law enforcement friends has made it possible for us to ring in the new year with strong momentum.

As we move into 2017, Going To The Dogs will continue to focus on our mission which is purchasing protective vests and other equipment that department budgets cannot fund. Now more than ever, we need to continue our momentum by creating awareness for the safety of the K9s in our community. This year alone, there have been 34 police dogs killed in the line of duty across the United States not to mention the scores of police officers who have been injured or killed in recent months. It's a volatile time and it makes our mission even more important.

Going To The Dogs has made an impact to the K9s on both sides of the state line as we celebrate the purchase of our 10th vest since January. So as we bring this year to a close, we want to thank you for your support and express our gratitude for an amazing year. We truly appreciate you and what you have given to Going To The Dogs and Caring for the K9s.

Donna Wilson

Founder and Executive Director

Board Members

Val Coyazo * Laura McDonald * Irene Post * Donna Thornton *

* Wayne Willis * Jim Wilson

To donate, feel free to visit our website www.going2thedogs.org and click on the donate button at the top of the page or you can make a donation on our Facebook page.

Events from September until Now


Family Fun Activities and A Raffle with Great Donations

Family Friendly Fun at Eilenberger's Automotive

In September, we enjoyed a family-friendly afternoon at Eilenberger's Automotive with a BBQ, raffle and dunk tank for the kids.

Proceeds from this event helped with the purchase of several vests for K9s in the community.

A big shout out to those who helped with the activities and special thanks to Paul Eilenberger, Roni's Pub, Pet Wants of Olathe, Frank's Coasters, Wycliff Veterinary and Goldie's Goodies for their participation. Attendees had the opportunity to learn more about the life of a K9 from the Overland Park K9 Officers and learn about their techniques and training.


	Wayne Willis, Board Member, Scrubbing An Irresistible Face

Shout Out To Our Friends At Treat Unleashed in Leawood

The month of October was very busy. Treats Unleashed in Leawood honored us as the Charity of the Month with every Saturday hosting an event with proceeds benefiting Going To The Dogs.

Between the Apple Pie Eating Contest (for Pets), the Celebrity Spaw Event with Gary Lezak, Smooch the Pooch and Fine Tuners Caricatures, and Howl-O-Ween Trick or Treating for Pets, they raised $4,000 for Going To The Dogs. We appreciate their support and helping us bring awareness to our cause.


K9 Fall with Handler Matt Hashagen with the Shawnee Police Department

Chili Cook-Off and K9 Demo at Garrett's Pub in Shawnee

Our first chili cook-off took place at Garrett's Pub where attendees had the opportunity to watch a K9 demonstration presented by the Shawnee Police Department. Everyone was amazed to watch K9 Fall with his sharp nose find the hidden narcotics that Officer Hashagen planted.

Very intelligent and thankful we have K9s and their handlers as resources to fight the drugs on the streets and look for suspects on the run!


	Officer Ian Mills and K9 Axel with the Olathe Police Department

Vest Presentation to K9 Axel, Olathe Police Department

Several weeks ago, Going To The Dogs presented K9 Axel and his human partner Officer Ian Mills with a protective vest.

We appreciate Grant Schroeder's efforts in raising $1,200 to purchase the vest and we look forward to working with other young and eager volunteers to help us in the future.

We worked with KMBC, WDAF/Fox News, the Kansas City Star, and the Shawnee Dispatch in providing media coverage. In addition, we made the newspaper in both Los Angeles and Boston! Who knows where we will be seen next, but we look forward to others helping us raise additional donations in the future.

Thank you Grant, his family and grandma Connie for making delicious cookies and lemonade that he sold to benefit our organization.

Our Friends with the Olathe Police Department

What An Amazing Year!

K9s Who We

Presented Vests

With the vests costing roughly $1,000, we are excited to have the honor of presenting local K9s with a vest. K9s include:

K9 Ram - Lenexa
K9 Grim - Shawnee
K9 Diogi with the Jackson County Sheriff's Department
K9 Axel - Olathe

K9 Diogi from Jackson County Sheriff's Department with Handler Eli Postelwait

K9s With Vests

On Order

These K9s have vests on order, and we are looking forward to meeting them in the near future when we present them with their own protection.

K9 Jampy - Missouri Highway Patrol
K9 Hatto - Olathe
K9 Kobi - Olathe
K9 Chief - Tonganoxie
K9 Scout - Bonner Springs

Additional K9's

Need Vests

We have other K9s in Missouri and Kansas who need a protective vest. Donations are pivotal to the success of our organization and allows us to provide to K9s in the area.

Going To The Dogs knows the importance of making sure the police dogs are given the same safety precautions as their human partner. No one would want to send a K9 into a dangerous situation without the vest protecting them.

These vests are lightweight in comparison to others on the market, and it doesn't sacrifice performance. It protects them from gunshots and knife wounds with the major arteries covered and gives the K9 a better chance of survival.

Purchasing Our First Kennel for the Police Car

Going To The Dogs is excited to purchase the Tonganoxie Police Department a new kennel for a police car. The one they had was in bad shape and was beyond repair.

We are anxious for it to arrive as we know K9 Chief is excited to have a new place to ride. The cost of the kennel was $2,000, and we appreciate the help we received from our donors to be able to help the Tonganoxie Police Department.

K9 Chief from Tonganoxie, Kansas Getting A New Kennel

Mark Your Calendar

for 2017

The Events Planning Committee is in the process of scheduling Charity Events for 2017. Mark your calendar for the dates below and watch for more details as it becomes available.

TBD - Bowl-A-Thon
Thursday, April 27, 2017 - 2nd Annual Trivia Night - Thompson Barn in Lenexa
Friday, September 15, 2017 - 2nd Annual Playing in the Ruff Golf Tournament at Swope Park
TBD - Family Fun Event at Eilenberger's Automotive
And other events to be announced in 2017...stay tuned

Charitable Contributions

for 2016

Now is that time of year when making a tax deductible contribution to Going To The Dogs is helpful to not only our organization but to you as you look for organizations to support.

We would appreciate any amount given to our charity so we can pay it forward to the police departments who protect our communities. Your tax-deductible contribution could be used to:

1. Purchase additional vests

2. Procure equipment needed that departments cannot fund (i.e., car kennel, heating and cooling system for car)

3. A future K9 who will be replacing one who is entering retirement

A K9 can cost between $8,000 to $15,000 depending on the breed and the training involved.