Redemption Road K9

07/25/2025

🐾✨ Gratitude, Growth & Groundbreaking Partnerships at Valley State Prison ✨🐾

This week, Redemption Road K9 (RRK9®) had the profound honor of joining the Inside Knowledge Journalism Symposium at Valley State Prison—an unprecedented gathering led by the incarcerated scholars of the Carceral Studies Journalism Guild (CSJG), hosted by Justice for Everybody at the Yale Institute on Incarceration and Public Safety, and produced in partnership with the Harvard-Yale Institute on Policing, Incarceration, and Public Safety.

This was more than a symposium—it was a glimpse into what’s possible when education, lived experience, and radical collaboration come together to reimagine justice.

We are deeply grateful to Dr. Elizabeth Hinton, Kristine Guillaume, Ghostwrite Mike, Matthew Fletcher, Dominick J. Porter, Denis Akbari, Randall Horton, and all those who gave voice and shape to this moment with conviction and clarity.

Special thanks to Benjamin Frandsen of the Ben Free Project and Rylend Grant for the invitation and for championing the impact of science-backed, trauma-informed K9 programming within the carceral and public safety arenas.

During the symposium, RRK9 Training Director John Anthony S—also Co-Director of the AAI-21® Program and Yrene Ramirez, a graduate of the AAI-21® Program featured as a part of La Sierra University’s Criminal Justice Department—was humbled to be approached by incarcerated participants with a visionary request: to co-create and lead a new kind of Animal-Assisted Intervention rooted in healing, evidence, and dignity.

That conversation sparked the launch of the Training Loving Caring (TLC) K9 Research Group—a bold, first-of-its-kind collaboration between incarcerated scholars, behavioral science experts, and academic partners.

The TLC K9 Research Group represents a shared commitment between RRK9, the Georgia Community Emergency Response Team, and La Sierra University's Criminal Justice Department to build sustained, interdisciplinary programming that empowers human-canine teams to transform lives—from incarceration to reintegration.

Every person. Every dog. Everywhere.

07/23/2025

🚨🔥 RRK9 Nymeria of Dorn: Born to Hunt. Trained to Heal. Certified to Serve. 🔥🚨

This weekend, history was made.

🐾 Nymeria, a purpose-bred Jagdterrier, became (as far as we know) the first of her kind in the U.S. to earn a National Certification in human detection on land and in water — a milestone in K9 Search & Rescue.

And the first at Redemption Road K9® trained in human scent detection on land and water.

This isn’t just a title — it’s a transformation.

✅ From high-prey hunting drive...
🔁 To precision human-scent focus...
🚑 In service to the lost, the missing, the vulnerable.

It took faith. Science. Sweat. Time.

And the kind of partnership that rewires instincts into life-saving skill.

💥 Bonus flex?
She clocked 22.03 MPH as her fastest time on her first FastCAT run — officially the fastest Jagdterrier in the country.
Certified. Focused. Fire on paws.

Deepest thanks to:
👊 Mr. Brian Tezeno, Mr. William Burns, Mr. DeWon Fields – your belief in the Jagdterrier Peak Performance & Readiness Study made this real.

🎯 Macy Taber, Shayne Schettler & Sinead Imbaro of GAK9 – your guidance and technical excellence drove us through every rep.
We've poured high-love, high-standard, and high-engagement into her life — and she’s returning it tenfold.

This was the hardest, most rewarding challenge of my training life.
And we’re just getting started.

🔁 Back to the work.
🔁 Back to the mission.
🔁 Back to the hunt.

07/02/2025

🔥🐾 Massive congratulations to RRK9 Cerberus of Hades 🔥🐾

Now officially Trailing Certified through Georgia K9 National Training Center, LLC (GAK9) — a title that took resilience, real-world readiness, and a relentless commitment to growth.

Cerberus didn’t fall short because he lacked skill. He’s been crushing deployments for months. The challenge? The handler. As handlers, we have to learn how to get out of our own way. We have to understand that high-level K9 work is less about checking boxes and more about mastering the bond. When you’re managing a four-dog SAR unit, that means learning four different languages, energies, and expectations — simultaneously.

This certification isn’t just a win for Cerberus. It’s a win for the journey.

💡 To Shayne Schettler — thank you. Your clarity, fieldwork focus, and no-fluff training style make you one of the most impactful instructors I’ve ever worked with. You don’t just sharpen handlers — you help them lead.

🎯 To Sinead Imbaro — your precision, attention to structure, and relentless prioritization of the dog’s experience elevate every session. You help the team cut the noise and lean into excellence with calm, clear intent.

🌱 To Macy — your growth as a handler and instructor is powerful to witness. You carry grace, grit, and insight into every trail. The field needs more leaders like you.

🐍🌧 To Kirsten Moore of GAK9 Athens — thank you for laying this trail through Georgia storm mud, snakes, and summer bugs. Your commitment made this possible.

🤝 To Hiran Licea — you’ve been a solid teammate, from problem-solving to logistics. Thank you for showing up every time. Loyalty and honor always.

Cerberus — my DDR/Czech powerhouse — now holds operational certifications in Area Search, HRD (Land & Water), and now Trailing. He’s not just a SAR dog. He’s a partner, a force, and a daily reminder that greatness is earned, not claimed.

At RRK9, we don’t chase titles. We chase usefulness. Readiness. Reliability. When the call comes in, we don’t want hype — we want prepared.

RRK9 Cerberus of Hades, you earned this.

B"H.

06/30/2025

🚨 OUTSIDE OF THE “OUTSIDERS” 🚨

Today, we pause to honor one of our own.

John Anthony S, Co-Founder and Director of GA-CERT K9, was recently profiled in a powerful and deeply moving article by Marcia Jaffe. In it, she captured something rare: not just the skills, but the soul behind the work. Not just the survival, but the service.

Redemption Road K9 was born on the outside of the "outsiders"—a place where faith, failure, grit, and legacy meet. It takes courage to lead from that place. It takes conviction to build something enduring from it.

We’re proud to walk beside a handler who reminds us that being seen—with dignity—is a sacred thing. And that the work of Search and Rescue isn’t just technical. It’s personal. Generational. Holy.

As John wrote:
“We’ve proven it can be done. Now take that leash and make a difference.”

Better people make better K9 teams. We believe it. We live it.

In memory of every ancestor who was never fully seen, and in honor of every K9 team building something better—brick by brick.

🔗 Read the article: https://bit.ly/3GkJDfB

Atlantan John Anthony Shahor uses Jewish motivation to inspire programming in addition to private training for working dogs, and high-profile police work.

06/22/2025

🐾 Official Announcement: GA-CERT K9 & RRK9 are Now an AKC-Recognized Therapy Dog Organization 🐾

Expanding the Reach of Hope—One Paw at a Time!

The Georgia Community Emergency Response Team (GA-CERT K9) is proud to announce its OFFICIAL recognition as an AKC Therapy Dog Organization—joining an elite group of nationally trusted certifying bodies in the field of Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI).

This distinction by the American Kennel Club (AKC) affirms GA-CERT K9’s commitment to excellence, safety, and compassion in every visit, every deployment, and every dog-handler partnership.

🛡️ Why This Matters:
As an AKC-recognized organization, GA-CERT K9 is now authorized to:
✔ Certify therapy dog-handler teams in alignment with AKC Therapy Dog Title requirements
✔ Provide structured, trauma-informed training based on national best practices
✔ Offer supervised volunteer placements in hospitals, schools, courtrooms, shelters, and emergency settings
✔ Maintain comprehensive screening, education, and liability coverage for all certified teams
✔ Award documented therapy dog visits toward official AKC Therapy Dog Titles (THD, THDA, THDX, THDM, THDS)

🐕‍🦺 About GA-CERT K9:
GA-CERT K9 is a mission-driven, community-first K9 response unit dedicated to Search & Rescue, disaster response, and public safety—with a newly expanded focus on Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI). Through its partnership with Redemption Road K9 and the AAI-21® Institute at La Sierra University’s Criminal Justice Department, GA-CERT K9 delivers a nationally recognized model of canine care, emotional support, and trauma-informed community engagement.

Our Therapy Dog Program now extends the power of the paw into the heart of every community we serve—bringing calm, comfort, and connection where it’s needed most.

📣 Now Accepting Therapy Dog Teams
If you and your dog are ready to serve with purpose and compassion, we invite you to begin your journey with GA-CERT K9.

📩 Contact Us: [email protected]
🌐 Visit: https://www.gacertk9.org/contact
🗓️ Summer/Fall 2025 Handler Cohort Enrollment Now Open

06/01/2025

🌸 Operation Georgia Peach: Hope, Healing, and a New Chapter in K9 Search and Rescue Work 🌸

Last month, something extraordinary happened in Twiggs County, Georgia.

13 students from La Sierra University: Criminal Justice traveled across the country to join the Georgia Community Emergency Response Team (GA-CERT K9), Redemption Road K9, and the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office in a decades-old search for a missing person.

This wasn’t just a training. It was a moment of purpose.

A Department of Labor–approved micro-internship turned into nearly 100 hours of real-time, high-stakes learning—searching wooded terrain, flying drones, working K9s, and writing forensic reports that may change how we approach cold cases forever.

None of this would have been possible without those who believed deeply in the mission:

🤍 Sinead Imbaro, for her unwavering support and coordination from behind the scenes.

🤍 Detective Brandon Austin DeCosse, who taught students the powerful "DeCosse Method" of combining drone tech and K9s in search and rescue.

🤍 Field Medic Marco Antonio Quezada Jr., who served with exceptional valor and precision during Operation Georgia Peach, where his mastery of trauma protocols and calm under pressure helped safeguard the entire unit in hostile terrain.

🤍 Shirin E, whose leadership and vision carried us through every step.

🤍 And to Yrene Ramirez, whose strength, lived experience, and heart made this search not only professional—but deeply personal.

Yrene’s words stay with us:
“For me, my ‘why’ ended up being a lot more personal… being able to serve that part of me as a child that was underserved… to be able to search for anybody—that meant everything.”

To our incredible criminal justice forensic recorders and search team specialists, both on the ground and virtually—thank you. Hard work pays off. Will, Mina, and Alex, you represented yourselves, your families and your university perfectly. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your journey.

To our national and international collaborators—thank you.

To the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office—

Thank you for placing your trust in us. What we’ve accomplished here is nothing short of groundbreaking. You haven’t just contributed to an operation—you’ve set a new benchmark for excellence in community collaboration, both nationally and internationally. Your courage, collaboration, and vision have redefined what is possible.

To the family, the community, and to communities around the world—our mission continues.

This is more than search and rescue. This is justice. This is redemption. This is community.

Read article HERE: https://bit.ly/4kCAq0A

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05/22/2025

La Sierra University’s Criminal Justice Department () just made history. In partnership with Redemption Road K9 ()and GA-CERT K9 (), students completed the first-ever LED-21® / AAI-21® Criminal Justice Micro-Internship, deploying across the country to support a real-world cold case investigation in Twiggs County, Georgia.

As part of the U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program, these students applied advanced skills in forensics, search and recovery, and animal-assisted intervention (AAI-21®)—bridging the gap between academic learning and frontline public safety work. 🧠🐾🚨

This groundbreaking experience sets a new national precedent for how Criminal Justice students engage in high-impact, trauma-informed fieldwork—while earning credit, credentials, and career momentum.

History made. Lives impacted. Futures changed.

Read more HERE: https://bit.ly/44NHHpZ

05/15/2025

The La Sierra University Criminal Justice Department and LED-21® Presents: The La Sierra University Criminal Justice Forensic Search Team Specialists

Meet a few of our star students AND the future of justice in action! As part of the groundbreaking LED-21® (Law Enforcement Dogs for the 21st Century) Program, the La Sierra University Criminal Justice Forensic Search Team Specialists are leading a new era of mission-driven education and K9-integrated fieldwork.

These elite students are not just studying criminal justice — they’re living it. Trained alongside certified Search and Rescue K9s and embedded in real-world deployments, the Forensic Search Team Specialists bridge the gap between theory and tactical application. From missing persons recovery to crime scene search strategies, evidence recording, these student-leaders are redefining what it means to serve.

Why They Stand Out:
*Field-Tested: Actively deployed on missions with GA-CERT K9 and Redemption Road K9

* Forensically Trained: Grounded in evidence-based search strategies and trauma-informed practices

* Mission-Ready: Equipped with certifications that matter in the professional working dog world

* Justice-Focused: Committed to equity, community resilience, and public safety innovation

Together with LED-21®, the La Sierra University Forensic Search Team Specialists represent a bold new model of learning — one that doesn’t just prepare students for careers, but for calling.
Justice. Service. Leadership. Powered by Purpose.

LED-21® + La Sierra University Criminal Justice = Impact Without Borders.

Photography By Forensic Photographer Yrene Ramirez

05/13/2025

🚨 La Sierra Criminal Justice Department Students Make History With Nation's First K9 SAR Micro-Internship🚨

Last week, student specialists from La Sierra University’s Criminal Justice Department Forensic Search Team deployed alongside the Georgia Community Emergency Response Team (GA-CERT K9), Redemption Road K9 (RRK9), and local law enforcement for a first-of-its-kind micro-internship: Operation Lost Trails – The Search for Justice, a live missing person cold case mission in Macon, Georgia.

As part of the U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program, this LED-21® Micro-Internship gave students the opportunity to apply real-world skills in forensic investigation, drone operations, and K9 search strategy.

Led by GA-CERT K9 and the LED-21® platform, the mission fused canine science, trauma-informed practice, and criminal justice education — preparing the next generation of public servants to serve with skill and compassion.

🌟 The mission was made possible through the support of:

* Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office

* Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI)

* Dublin Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office

* La Sierra University Criminal Justice Department

* Office of the Provost & Office of the President at La Sierra University

📸 Special thanks to the expert team on the ground:

Shirin E & John Anthony S, Mission Leads

Sinead Imbaro, World-renowned K9 detection expert, Florida Task Force 6 Search Specialist, GAK9 Instructor & K9 Medic

Carlton Fuller, La Sierra University Criminal Justice Department Instructor & Former Forensic Unit Manager for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department & Riverside Police Department

Yrene Ramirez, Forensic photographer

Brandon Austin DeCosse, Detective and SWAT K9 handler, who provided aerial drone surveillance. His expertise in crime scene preservation ensured that all operations adhered to evidence integrity and procedural standards.

La Sierra students supported mapping, evidence collection, and operational logistics — in real time.

“Our students are more than just learners—they are actively engaged in community impact,” said John ben Shahor-Shoshana, Director of the LED-21® program. “This is a classroom-to-community model where students apply their knowledge to real-world cases.”

📍 Location: Macon, GA
🧭 Mission: K9 Biosensor Forensic Search & Recovery
🐾 Partners: GA-CERT K9 | Redemption Road K9 | La Sierra University Criminal Justice Department

04/20/2025

🌟 Believe in yourself. Never give up — The RRK9 Way. 🌟

At Redemption Road K9 (), we believe in rising to the challenge, staying the course, and building a better world — one handler at a time.

Today, we’re proud to honor Yrene Ramirez () — a shining example of resilience, purpose, and power.

Yrene has officially completed 1250 verified training hours through our LED-21® Registered Apprenticeship Program () — a nationally tracked and U.S. Department of Labor-recognized pathway into law enforcement, emergency response, and public safety.

Throughout her LED-21® journey, Yrene demonstrated exceptional grit, grace, and growth. From job-related technical instruction and tactical readiness to real-world community service and field-based mentorship — she did it all. And she did it with heart. 💪🐾

This is more than a certificate. It’s a launchpad. A powerful beginning to a lifelong legacy of service and leadership.

Let Yrene’s achievement be a reminder to us all: You are capable. You are worthy. You belong here.

📣 Congratulations, Yrene. You’ve earned your spot in this movement. We see you. We celebrate you. And we can’t wait to see what you conquer next.

💙🚨🐕

04/11/2025

🚨🇺🇸 LED-21® x RRK9® x U.S. Secret Service 🇺🇸🚨

We had the absolute honor of hosting Former United States Marine and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Robert Castillo at the La Sierra University Criminal Justice Department and our Law Enforcement Dogs for the 21st Century (LED-21®) Program!

Agent Castillo—now a Talent Acquisition Specialist with the U.S. Secret Service—shared his inspiring journey from the Marine Corps to serving at the highest levels of federal law enforcement. His insight into careers with the Secret Service, especially in elite roles like K9 handler, opened our students’ eyes to what’s possible with purpose, grit, and discipline.

With a background in corporate communications, strategic recruitment and tech recruiting, and a passion for developing systems that serve with honesty and integrity, Robert's visit was more than a career talk—it was a masterclass in leadership and service.

🔥 And here’s the real kicker: We’ll soon be announcing a few of our standout LED-21 students who have already received offers from the United States Secret Service. Big things are happening. Stay tuned!

Thank you, Agent Castillo, for investing your time, your story, and your wisdom into the next generation of justice professionals. Your visit left a mark on us—and on the future.

Photography by Yrene Ramirez of Foul Photography/Redimere Media

04/10/2025

🐾🔥 REVOLUTIONIZING K9 CARE – ONE HANDLER AT A TIME 🔥🐾

There is no one doing it like Jo-Anne Brenner (Joy) and her phenomenal K9 MEDIC® team. Their expertise, innovation, and relentless commitment to saving canine lives in the field is transforming the way we train, work, and protect our K9 partners.

From cutting-edge trauma care to heat injury prevention, Joy and her team are bringing the science, the field experience, and the real-world solutions to the handlers who need it most. This isn’t theory — it’s tactical, hands-on, and mission-critical.

And this weekend? 👇

💥 A MASSIVE SUCCESS.
With Redemption Road K9, the Georgia Community Emergency Response Team and the LED-21® program in full swing, we had the honor of training alongside K9 professionals, SAR teams from California Rescue Dogs Association (CARDA). 💪

NOW... we’re bringing K9 MEDIC directly to our students at La Sierra University.
🎓 A full-scope, hands-on K9 Handler First Aid certification
🩸 Focused on heat and trauma — the top two preventable causes of working dog death
🧠 Backed by science, delivered by experts
🐕‍🦺 Designed for SAR handlers, by SAR handlers

Thanks to Joy, TacMed Solutions, and our incredible partners at CARDA – California Rescue Dog Association for making this possible and opening this program to certified K9 handlers across Southern California.

This is the next evolution of K9 leadership, and we couldn’t be prouder to bring it to our students.

Let’s train. Let’s lead. Let’s protect.