K9 Jet – Shelter dog to explosive detection K9!
Meet K9 Jet who served with the Auraria Campus Police Department as an Explosive Detection K9. Before donning his uniform and putting that nose to work, K9 Jet wasn’t even named Jet – he was named Marley! “Marley” had been dropped off at an animal shelter in Texas for unknown reasons and was put on the euthanization list. Yes, this four-legged hero started his career in a shelter!
K9 Jet, retired working dog, enjoying a nap in front of a fireplace.
Getting Saved!
While in the shelter he was rescued by Ginger’s Pet Rescue and brought to Seattle, Washington. The Seattle shelter contacted the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, who quickly realized Jet would make a great search dog and was then picked up by The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Office of Fire Prevention and Control. Jet joined the State’s Urban Search and Rescue Team – New York Task Force 2, which included members of state and local emergency response agencies. For unknown reasons, now known as Jet, he was not kept at this agency. Another K9 trainer found Jet sitting in limbo and decided to try him out for explosive detection work. This would open his next chapter as he went from New York to Colorado.
Meeting the Right Handler!
The handler who brought Jet to Colorado suddenly left the department; this is when Yama Gafari took over the K9 department and took on Jet as his partner. Yama and Jet had an instant bond that would make them a dream team, and the best pair to become the example for the Auraria Campus Police! Yama took Jet’s training back to the basics and started an official K-9 academy through the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Jet showed great drive and determination, and this was the very start of a permanent and successful career at age 6 – finally Jet had found his purpose, and all it took was the right handler to connect with.
K9 Jet with the handler that would let Jet shine!
Since then, Jet has passed all his certifications (state, national and federal) and loved his new job, home and family. In late 2023, Jet officially retired at almost 11 years old. Jet does not like being retired one bit as his handler goes to work without him, but Jet still has his loving family including Yama’s wife, and two children.
Marley, better known as Jet, went from the odds stacked against him, to being a shining example of an incredible canine.
We thank Jet and Yama for their service not only to our communities, but to each other – as they both needed the other to allow their careers to blossom.
How You Can Help!
If you would like to support K9 Jet, and others like him that served our nation proudly, please consider donating to our mission! We cover veterinary expenses so the handlers of these four-legged heroes can focus on giving their beloved partners a long and healthy retirement, because that’s what they deserve! If you would like to learn more about the other courageous canines in our program, follow this link!