A police officer living in Chilliwack whose career as a dog handler came to a halt when he was struck by a car is raising money and awareness for retired service dogs.

Const. Aaron Courtney said there was a 香蕉视频直播渉uge void香蕉视频直播� in his life following the hit-and-run he was victim to in March 2019 in Burnaby.

He was on-duty and standing on a sidewalk while training his dog Kato when a car hit him and another officer and then fled. The two officers were taken to Royal Columbian Hospital and the suspect vehicle was found abandoned several blocks away. Kato was inside a truck parked next to them at the time of the collision and was not injured.

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香蕉视频直播淭hat was our last dog day for us,香蕉视频直播� Courtney said.

He香蕉视频直播檚 been with Abbotsford Police Department for 19 years and was a dog handler and trainer for about 16 of those years. He香蕉视频直播檚 currently back with APD doing light-duty work, but said his mental health was affected as a result of the incident.

香蕉视频直播�(Being a dog handler) is not really a job, it is a lifestyle because you bring it home with you,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 unlike any other job in policing. It香蕉视频直播檚 not like just bringing your cellphone home, it香蕉视频直播檚 totally different. You香蕉视频直播檝e got these dogs with you, they香蕉视频直播檙e part of your family.香蕉视频直播�

When he realized his career as a dog handler was in jeopardy, he wondered how he could stay involved with police dogs.

Courtney and his partner Sgt. Jason Martens, along with their wives, started up Support Retired Legends in 2020 in honour of retired canine heroes. It香蕉视频直播檚 a business where they sell apparel and coffee with part proceeds going to Ned香蕉视频直播檚 Wish, a Canadian charity which provides financial support to help pay for the medical bills of retired police and military dogs. They have a pop-up event happening in Chilliwack on Saturday, Feb. 26.

香蕉视频直播淢any people are not aware but the majority of police dogs in Canada receive no pension or medical assistance when they retire,香蕉视频直播� Courtney said.

Dogs have top-notch care while they香蕉视频直播檙e working, but as soon as they retire, they are signed over to whoever takes them (usually it香蕉视频直播檚 the handler) and the owner is then responsible for any medical bills.

The problem is, the dog will be denied certain insurance coverage based on pre-existing injuries or the cost of insurance is simply too expensive because it香蕉视频直播檚 a senior dog with 香蕉视频直播渁 lot of mileage,香蕉视频直播� Courtney said.

香蕉视频直播淭he short answer is, it香蕉视频直播檚 not cost effective.香蕉视频直播�

He said it香蕉视频直播檚 not fair that the owners have to cancel trips or take out a loan to pay for the retired dog香蕉视频直播檚 medical bills.

香蕉视频直播淚f there are people out there with these retired heroes that want to access funds so they don香蕉视频直播檛 have to make those decisions, we take the decisions out of their hands,香蕉视频直播� Courtney said. 香蕉视频直播淲e give them help because they香蕉视频直播檙e doing these dogs a favour.香蕉视频直播�

It takes a dog about two years to become a fully trained police dog. They work for about seven years and retire around the age of eight or nine. During their career, they香蕉视频直播檙e out saving people including kids, finding evidence, and saving thousands or millions of dollars in investigative time.

When the dogs track someone from a break-and-enter, 香蕉视频直播渢hey香蕉视频直播檝e pieced that file together for the investigator,香蕉视频直播� Courtney said.

香蕉视频直播淚 think they don香蕉视频直播檛 get the recognition they deserve on what they actually do and how well they do it. And they don香蕉视频直播檛 ask for anything. The dogs just do it for love, a ball, a treat.香蕉视频直播�

Since the end of 2020, Courtney and Martens have been raising funds for Ned香蕉视频直播檚 Wish 香蕉视频直播� which is basically a bank account for the retired service dogs 香蕉视频直播� through the sale of their Support Retired Legends apparel and K9 Coffee.

Their organic coffee is roasted in the Lower Mainland and there are many details in the coffee packaging in honour of the dogs. The bags are black and tan which represents the colours of a German shepherd香蕉视频直播檚 coat, the name of each coffee blend has a meaning to do with dogs, and the photos on the packaging are all of retired canines.

Each bag contains 365 grams of coffee. Why such a random number?

香蕉视频直播淓very day of the year they香蕉视频直播檙e ready to work,香蕉视频直播� Courtney said.

He and Martens will have a pop-up shop this weekend where folks can try the coffee and purchase merchandise like shirts, hoodies, hats and more at Winks (45657 Stevenson Rd.) on Saturday, Feb. 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are plans to have retired dog Dezi at the event as well.

Support Retired Legends was started to fulfill two main goals: to educate people about police dogs and their lack of pensions; and to raise money for Ned香蕉视频直播檚 Wish.

But there香蕉视频直播檚 been another upside to Support Retired Legends.

香蕉视频直播淚 feel like I香蕉视频直播檓 helping and contributing to something and staying involved in a program that was more or less stolen from me through the accident,香蕉视频直播� Courtney said. 香蕉视频直播淥n a personal level, it香蕉视频直播檚 been mentally and physically healing for me.香蕉视频直播�

In addition to the pop-up event on Saturday, people can find Support Retired Legends apparel and K9 Coffee at two Chilliwack businesses: Joint Force Tactical and Fergie香蕉视频直播檚 Doggie Delight Pet Bakery. Or, go online to supportretiredlegends.com for more info.