A Successful Year for Heroes and Hounds

This year a local collection netted 360 care packages as well and additional trailer full of items for military K9s and their handlers serving in the Middle East. 

Simsbury Animal Control Officer Mark Rudewicz, a former Marine and one-time K9 supervisor for the Hartford Police Department, started the collection, dubbed Heroes and Hounds, in 2009. 

Rudewicz and the Simsbury Police Department facilitate the drive, with numerous contributions from residents, corporations and organizations. 

"For me it's an honor and a privilege to do this," Rudewicz said. "People have been wonderful." 

The care packages are distributed to  

• Handlers and improvised explosive devices (IED)-detecting dogs 
• Soldiers with therapy dogs 
• Vet units or Vet techs 

A large collection of the boxes were sent out this month and recently a large trailer full of larger items was distributed to Andover Air Force Base and are being transported by cargo plane. 

The effort, however, is nearly year round. Already Rudewicz is talking of send out another batch of packages in the next couple months. 

Packages are individualized and most recipients get three to four boxes at a time, which are packed with items for both human and K-9. Items can include DVDs, shampoo, eye drops, toothpaste and more. For dogs there are often items such as collars, dog shampoo, kongs, treats, doggles and more.  

See more about the effort at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heroes-and-Hounds/454397667985990