A valuable service for those who serve

...After Abigail Harrington watched her brother, a retired U.S. Navy veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder, struggle with day-to-day tasks – then noticed the change after he received a home protection K-9 – she knew she wanted to help not only her brother, but others as well. At the end of 2019, Harrington formed a 501(c)3, and in March 2020 moved into her office. Then COVID hit, making the endeavor a difficult and slow process. “Things are starting to pick up now,” said Harrington, founder/CEO of Project K9 Services in Brunswick, Ga. Project K9 Services is a nonprofit agency that aims to assist retired veterans, law enforcement officers and first responders with K9 help and support. In May 2022, retired U.S. Army veteran Lee Fischer of Murphy and his wife, Julie, were both in the hospital at the same time. Friends from church were assisting the couple with their three dogs at home. However, they could not continue to help for the length of time the Fischers were hospitalized. A nurse gave Julie a number for Harrington and Project K9 Services. Julie reached out for help, and the company took it from there. They placed the three dogs at Kadillac Kennels until the Fischers could return home and care for the dogs on their own. Harrington also arranged to have their home cleaned for them.
​In November, just several months later, the Fischers were in a serious vehicle accident on their way to Georgia for a doctor’s appointment. They had their three dogs with them. Project K9 Services received a call from animal control regarding the dogs in the accident. The Fischers were hospitalized once again and Dutch, their beloved bully-mix and Lee’s service dog, had to be put down due to injuries. Julie reached out to Harrington again because of her previous experience with their service. To ease the burden of care for the animals while the Fischers recovered, Project K9 Services began doing what the company was created to do – assist with K9 care and help ease the burden through the recovery process...

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Cherokee Scout (​pg 10A)