The 5th Annual Aftermath K9 Grant is Here!

Get out your cheerleading uniforms and put your paws in the air! The competition for Aftermath’s 5th Annual K9 Grant is now LIVE and will run throughout the month of October. This year, we’re pulling all the stops to get people involved – from social media to local media outlets, conferences, word-of-mouth, and emails. Over 35,000 people voted last year, and we expect this year to be even bigger yet!

If you haven’t heard the word, every year Aftermath gives away $5000 to one lucky department. So whether your local police already have a K9 Unit, or they’re hoping to add one soon, the Aftermath K9 Contest is a great way to support their efforts. Check out the official Press Release, or read on to learn more.

5 Years of K9 Grants

Over the years, Aftermath has contributed thousands of dollars to law enforcement agencies nationwide to help maintain and grow their K9 programs. We recognize the important role these specially trained animals serve in their communities; from serving as proud ambassadors to providing invaluable assistance in search and rescue operations, suspect apprehension, and search and seizure, K9 officers help save the lives of civilians and officers every day. With the K9 grant, we are able to showcase the unique contribution made by these dogs, and reward the efforts of law enforcement officers nationwide.

Recently, we had the opportunity to catch up with last year’s recipients, the Illinois Lake County Sheriff’s K9 Unit, just as Dax, Diesel, and Duke became official members of the squad.  For two days, our camera crew followed their progress as they prepared for the big day.  Sgt. McKinney and handlers Dep. Forlenza, Dep. Somerville, and Dep. Arrowood were all on hand to show us how their team put the Aftermath K9 grant to good use. You can read a full recap of the experience on our blog. Also, be sure to check out the exciting video and learn more about the benefits of the Aftermath K9 grant on YouTube.

Other past winners of the K9 Grant include the Illinois state Kane County Sheriff’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office in New Jersey, and Lower Allen Township Police Department of Pennsylvania. Funds from the grant have been used for the purchase and training of dogs, as well as outfitting them with life-saving equipment and devices such as heat stroke monitors and bullet proof vests.

How Does the Contest Work?

Last year, Aftermath decided to do something a little different with the K9 Contest. To illustrate our community mission while rewarding the dedicated members of law enforcement, any member of the community could nominate and vote for their local police department. They were also allowed to vote every day. The results from last year’s competition were so great that we’re continuing these traditions in 2016!

Voting is easy. Just visit the Aftermath K9 Grant entry page and fill out the form to register and vote. Use the drop down menu in the form to select your local police force or law enforcement agency. If your department isn’t listed yet, you can add it. Then be sure to stop by and vote every day – anyone over the age of 8 can vote, so be sure to spread the word to your family and friends! At the end of the month, votes will be tallied and the winner will be announced by November 3rd.

Create Your Own Happy Tail

Now it’s your turn! A full campaign guide is now available on our website. This guide features useful suggestions on how to use social media such as Facebook and Twitter to maximize your outreach, as well as important links and materials which could help you improve your chance of winning. Check out the PDF, follow us on social media, and watch the K9 Grant entry page for exciting updates, including a up-to-the-minute countdown of the top three voting departments.

Click here to view the official rules of this year’s contest, and remember to get your votes in today!