Spike’s K9 Fund was founded in 2014, to provide active and retired working K9s the support, equipment, and post-retirement care they need and deserve.  

 

The goal of our Spike’s School - SAR Edition program is to educate and improve communication between handler and K9 through top notch training from exceptional and recognized trainers across the country. Quality training results in increased effectiveness in the workplace and safer handling, protecting everyone involved - and this is our goal.

 

Spike’s K9 Fund was founded by James Hatch, a retired member of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, and named after his first working K9 “Spike” who was killed in action in 2006. James was a K9 handler on multiple combat deployments.  He and his team regularly relied on the K9’s to preserve their lives. On the night James was wounded in 2009, a K9 named “Remco” saved his life while losing his own. Now James is committed to preserving K9 lives in the same, dedicated way that the K9’s preserved human lives.

 

Spike's is teaming up with the Center for Forensic Training and Education (CFTE) to provide the best education possible. They provide innovative and customizable training and operational support to agencies and individuals regarding all aspects of the preparation and execution of search and recovery scenes.

 

This training will be 100% funded by our donors. We want to ensure everyone’s time is valued. Thank you in advance for your commitment to be better, thus making a difference in the K9 community and YOUR community.

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Spike’s School will be sponsoring up to 6 of the working spots in all of CFTE’s 2025 advanced workshops. If selected for one of the Spike’s School working spots your registration fee will be covered if you complete all requirements. *See Spike’s Fitness Test below. 

 

The workshops eligible for Spike’s School Sponsorship are (you may apply for more than once workshop):

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• Crime Scene, April 25-26

• HRD Water Advanced, July 11-13

• Advanced Distractions, September 5-6

• HRD Land Advanced, September 7-8

• Burn, October 25-26

 

Qualifications: 

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To be considered for Spike’s School, applicants must be an active and deployable member of their SAR agency and have a current K9 certification from a recognized external agency. Applicants must also meet the workshop prerequisites for which they are applying. Complete the Spike’s School application and submit all supplemental documentation in the workshop registration page at least two months prior to the start of the workshop you are requesting sponsorship for. 

 

Award Announcement:

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Award recipients will be announced 2 months prior to the start of the workshop you are applying for. If selected you must attend and participate all workshop activities including classroom presentations and field work, successfully complete the Spike’s Fitness Test, and adhere to all course policies. If you do not meet any of these requirements you will be required to reimburse Spike’s K9 Fund for your registration fee and you may be asked to leave the workshop if you violate the course policies.

 

MUST READ — Spike’s Fitness Test:

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Arrive prepared. This was a theme in our Founder’s former line of work that remains with us today. We believe it is important to be prepared for the job at hand. As a requirement for each course sponsorship, we are asking every applicant, with their canine, to complete a 1 mile hike with the handler carrying 25lbs. in 20 minutes or less. Each applicant will be tested the first morning of the workshop (suggest we drop evening before and do it the morning the course starts) before the course begins. If you or your canine are unable to pass the fitness test, the applicant is responsible for Spike’s School fees of $425-$600, depending on workshop, which will need to be paid the first morning of the workshop.

 

Application Checklist:

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To complete the application form you will need the following information —

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• SAR Resume

• K9 Bio

• Copy of Current K9 Certification

• Copy of Current K9 Vaccinations

• SAR Agency Letter of Recommendation

• Letter of Recommendation from LE or FD you have conducted searches for

• Current photo of handler & K9 in uniform

 

All items on the checklist must be included and completed 2 months prior to the start of the workshop you are requesting sponsorship for. Incomplete applications will be discarded without consideration. For questions about Spike’s School for K9 SAR contact deana@thecfte.com or call 330-466-8142.