Central Indiana K9 Association Works to Improve & Expand Training Opportunities for K9 Officers
Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided
When Theresa Brandon and Corporal Kyle Schaefer talk about dogs, their faces light up. The two share a passion not only for canines, but also for the faithful work that trained K9s take on when they devote their lives to law enforcement. Brandon and Schaefer connected early last year when Brandon, a Hendricks County resident and former Marine sergeant, reached out to Schaefer, a K9 handler with the Hendricks County Sheriff ’s Office. After sharing her ideas on raising funds and building a monument to honor K9s, Schaefer talked about his goals for building a permanent training site. Together they formulated the mission of a new nonprofit. The name Central Indiana K9 Association was established by the nonprofit’s board of directors, which met for the first time in April 2019. “I’m enamored with working with law enforcement and their K9s, and wanted to upgrade the standards here in Hendricks County and beyond,” Brandon explains.
Paying tribute to the dogs’ fierce loyalty to their partners, as well as their tenacious work ethic, was also important to Brandon. Take Harlej, the fallen K9 who worked with the Fishers Police Department. Last November he died in the line of duty.
dozen officers to locate the suspect Harlej found. One-hundred percent, that K9 saved his partner’s life.” Brandon believes that honoring a K9 officer for such devotion is important, and the Indianapolis community wholeheartedly agrees.
“Dogs can hear, see and smell things a human cannot,” Brandon says. “It would have taken multiple agencies and several
“Following Harlej’s memorial service, the streets were lined, mile after mile, with families and their pets,” Brandon
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