What We Do
We bridge the gap between service and retirement for Military Working Dogs (MWD), Contract Working Dogs (CWD) and Law Enforcement K9s (LEO). The retired K9’s at the Warrior Dog Foundation come to us when they are no longer able to continue their working career and have no other retirement options. Retirement can be due to many reasons; physical injury, mental injury (canine PTSD), age, handler retirement, department restructuring, etc. Our goal is to rehabilitate them ... Read More
What We Do
We bridge the gap between service and retirement for Military Working Dogs (MWD), Contract Working Dogs (CWD) and Law Enforcement K9s (LEO). The retired K9’s at the Warrior Dog Foundation come to us when they are no longer able to continue their working career and have no other retirement options. Retirement can be due to many reasons; physical injury, mental injury (canine PTSD), age, handler retirement, department restructuring, etc. Our goal is to rehabilitate them so that we may place them in their forever home. When that is not possible, we provide a sanctuary of last resort for them to live out their retirement in comfort and with care.
Our Founder - Mike Ritland
The Warrior Dog Foundation was founded by former US Navy SEAL Mike Ritland. Mr. Ritland served 12 years as a US Navy SEAL and saw action in Operation Iraqi Freedom, numerous special operations missions and went on to serve as Naval Special Warfare Multi-Purpose Canine (MPC) Trainer for the West Coast. After his service, Mike founded Trikos International, which specializes in providing working K9s to government agencies and private individuals including the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and Police Departments across the US.
In 2010, the Special Ops Community contacted Mike when they had two dogs whose temperaments and characters were such that being placed with their handlers or any other kind of more traditional ‘adoption’ scenario was not feasible. In a decision driven by his heart and out of respect and love for the Special Ops Community Mike quickly agreed to accept dogs Arko and Carlos, and help with any other dog down the line. Determined to give these dogs the best life possible the Warrior Dog Foundation was born. Officially established in 2013 the foundation retired, rehabilitated and forever re-homed over 150 K9s.
How You Can Help
Be a part of giving our retired K9s a future today. Your contributions and support
• provide rehabilitation options to retired K9s slated to be euthanized
• honors these courageous dogs with the respect, rest, and the retirement they deserve
• provides comfort to the handlers that continue protecting our country and communities
• gives someone else the chance to be impacted by the love of a Warrior Dog.
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