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 B次元官网网址渉uge voidB次元官网网址� 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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B次元官网网址淭hat was our last dog day for us,B次元官网网址� Courtney said.

HeB次元官网网址檚 been with Abbotsford Police Department for 19 years and was a dog handler and trainer for about 16 of those years. HeB次元官网网址檚 currently back with APD doing light-duty work, but said his mental health was affected as a result of the incident.

B次元官网网址�(Being a dog handler) is not really a job, it is a lifestyle because you bring it home with you,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 unlike any other job in policing. ItB次元官网网址檚 not like just bringing your cellphone home, itB次元官网网址檚 totally different. YouB次元官网网址檝e got these dogs with you, theyB次元官网网址檙e part of your family.B次元官网网址�

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. ItB次元官网网址檚 a business where they sell apparel and coffee with part proceeds going to NedB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淢any people are not aware but the majority of police dogs in Canada receive no pension or medical assistance when they retire,B次元官网网址� Courtney said.

Dogs have top-notch care while theyB次元官网网址檙e working, but as soon as they retire, they are signed over to whoever takes them (usually itB次元官网网址檚 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 itB次元官网网址檚 a senior dog with B次元官网网址渁 lot of mileage,B次元官网网址� Courtney said.

B次元官网网址淭he short answer is, itB次元官网网址檚 not cost effective.B次元官网网址�

He said itB次元官网网址檚 not fair that the owners have to cancel trips or take out a loan to pay for the retired dogB次元官网网址檚 medical bills.

B次元官网网址淚f there are people out there with these retired heroes that want to access funds so they donB次元官网网址檛 have to make those decisions, we take the decisions out of their hands,B次元官网网址� Courtney said. B次元官网网址淲e give them help because theyB次元官网网址檙e doing these dogs a favour.B次元官网网址�

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, theyB次元官网网址檙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, B次元官网网址渢heyB次元官网网址檝e pieced that file together for the investigator,B次元官网网址� Courtney said.

B次元官网网址淚 think they donB次元官网网址檛 get the recognition they deserve on what they actually do and how well they do it. And they donB次元官网网址檛 ask for anything. The dogs just do it for love, a ball, a treat.B次元官网网址�

Since the end of 2020, Courtney and Martens have been raising funds for NedB次元官网网址檚 Wish B次元官网网址� which is basically a bank account for the retired service dogs B次元官网网址� 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 shepherdB次元官网网址檚 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?

B次元官网网址淓very day of the year theyB次元官网网址檙e ready to work,B次元官网网址� 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 NedB次元官网网址檚 Wish.

But thereB次元官网网址檚 been another upside to Support Retired Legends.

B次元官网网址淚 feel like IB次元官网网址檓 helping and contributing to something and staying involved in a program that was more or less stolen from me through the accident,B次元官网网址� Courtney said. B次元官网网址淥n a personal level, itB次元官网网址檚 been mentally and physically healing for me.B次元官网网址�

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 FergieB次元官网网址檚 Doggie Delight Pet Bakery. Or, go online to supportretiredlegends.com for more info.