BRASELTON, Ga. — August 27, 2026 — Project Paws Alive (PPAK9), a nationwide 501(c)(3) nonprofit, today reported that more than 400 law enforcement, fire, search and rescue, EMS, and military agencies are currently on its national waiting list for free K9 protective equipment — the largest backlog in the organization's 14-year history.

The waiting list spans all 50 states. Agencies have applied for equipment they cannot otherwise afford: ballistic and stab-protective vests (~$1,400 per K9), military-grade field trauma kits ($435.99), NARCAN kits for opioid exposure ($160), and vehicle heat alarm systems ($3,000–$6,000).

"Every agency on that list is a handler who filed the paperwork, made the case to their department, and is waiting for us to catch up to them," said Cheryl Allen, President of Project Paws Alive. "These are working dogs assigned to patrol cars and crime scenes today without the protection they need."

PPAK9 was founded in 2012 by law enforcement veterans who identified a structural gap: most K9 units are classified as equipment, not officers, and fall outside the budget lines that fund human body armor. The organization is the only nonprofit providing free protective gear across all five first responder K9 disciplines — law enforcement, fire, search and rescue, EMS, and U.S. military working dogs.

The 400-agency waiting list is the result of demand outpacing donor funding. PPAK9 accepts contributions from individuals, corporations, donor advised funds, IRA qualified charitable distributions, stock gifts, and bequests.

"We've spent 14 years proving the model works," said Karen Caprio, Vice President of Project Paws Alive. "What we need now is the funding to clear the list."

PPAK9 holds GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency, awarded to fewer than 1% of U.S. nonprofits. EIN: 46-0874586. Agencies and donors may visit http://ppak9.org.

About Project Paws Alive: PPAK9 provides free vests, trauma kits, NARCAN kits, heat alarms, and oxygen masks to underfunded K9 units across Law Enforcement, Fire, SAR, EMS, and Military. GuideStar Platinum — top 1% of nonprofits. Protecting the K9s who protect you. http://ppak9.org | [email protected] | EIN: 46-0874586