Patriotic Pups: How One 11-Year-Old’s Idea Led to a Statewide and National Movement

(L–R) Emma Stanford, Chief Jonathan Welker, and Sgt. Robert Tarczewski and his partner K9 Tag in Palm Coast, Fla., in June 2018. Courtesy of Carmen Stanford via The Center Square

In 2018, 11-year-old Emma Stanford and her Gold Star family from Palm Coast, Florida, mentioned to their local sheriff her desire to find a canine companion. He then sent a member of his K-9 unit to her home and it was love at first woof.

Now 14, her efforts led to a new statewide program created through a law enacted this year to support retired police dogs. And her nonprofit EmmaLove’sK9s is inspiring others nationwide to help raise money to support police dogs in their local communities.