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 害羞草研究所渉uge void害羞草研究所� 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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害羞草研究所淭hat was our last dog day for us,害羞草研究所� Courtney said.

He害羞草研究所檚 been with Abbotsford Police Department for 19 years and was a dog handler and trainer for about 16 of those years. He害羞草研究所檚 currently back with APD doing light-duty work, but said his mental health was affected as a result of the incident.

害羞草研究所�(Being a dog handler) is not really a job, it is a lifestyle because you bring it home with you,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 unlike any other job in policing. It害羞草研究所檚 not like just bringing your cellphone home, it害羞草研究所檚 totally different. You害羞草研究所檝e got these dogs with you, they害羞草研究所檙e part of your family.害羞草研究所�

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. It害羞草研究所檚 a business where they sell apparel and coffee with part proceeds going to Ned害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淢any people are not aware but the majority of police dogs in Canada receive no pension or medical assistance when they retire,害羞草研究所� Courtney said.

Dogs have top-notch care while they害羞草研究所檙e working, but as soon as they retire, they are signed over to whoever takes them (usually it害羞草研究所檚 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 it害羞草研究所檚 a senior dog with 害羞草研究所渁 lot of mileage,害羞草研究所� Courtney said.

害羞草研究所淭he short answer is, it害羞草研究所檚 not cost effective.害羞草研究所�

He said it害羞草研究所檚 not fair that the owners have to cancel trips or take out a loan to pay for the retired dog害羞草研究所檚 medical bills.

害羞草研究所淚f there are people out there with these retired heroes that want to access funds so they don害羞草研究所檛 have to make those decisions, we take the decisions out of their hands,害羞草研究所� Courtney said. 害羞草研究所淲e give them help because they害羞草研究所檙e doing these dogs a favour.害羞草研究所�

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, they害羞草研究所檙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, 害羞草研究所渢hey害羞草研究所檝e pieced that file together for the investigator,害羞草研究所� Courtney said.

害羞草研究所淚 think they don害羞草研究所檛 get the recognition they deserve on what they actually do and how well they do it. And they don害羞草研究所檛 ask for anything. The dogs just do it for love, a ball, a treat.害羞草研究所�

Since the end of 2020, Courtney and Martens have been raising funds for Ned害羞草研究所檚 Wish 害羞草研究所� which is basically a bank account for the retired service dogs 害羞草研究所� 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 shepherd害羞草研究所檚 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?

害羞草研究所淓very day of the year they害羞草研究所檙e ready to work,害羞草研究所� 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 Ned害羞草研究所檚 Wish.

But there害羞草研究所檚 been another upside to Support Retired Legends.

害羞草研究所淚 feel like I害羞草研究所檓 helping and contributing to something and staying involved in a program that was more or less stolen from me through the accident,害羞草研究所� Courtney said. 害羞草研究所淥n a personal level, it害羞草研究所檚 been mentally and physically healing for me.害羞草研究所�

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 Fergie害羞草研究所檚 Doggie Delight Pet Bakery. Or, go online to supportretiredlegends.com for more info.