K-9 Veterans Day celebrated at American Legion Banquet Center

By Kim McDarison

Sunday, March 13, marked the return of the traditional in-person observance and celebration of K-9 Veterans Day, which is, in Wisconsin, in its eighth year.  

Last year, the seventh annual event was presented virtually. 

Back at the podium at the American Legion Banquet Center in Fort Atkinson, Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson treasurer, K-9 Veterans Day program coordinator — and by most accounts the inspiration behind bringing K-9 Veterans Day as a statewide observance to Wisconsin — Mabel Schumacher, told those in attendance that she was pleased to once again be able to honor all K-9 working dog teams, both active and retired, in-person. 

Included within the afternoon’s program at the legion hall was a presentation given by Schumacher honoring K-9 team Kenosha Sheriff’s Department Deputy Terry Tifft and his multipurpose German Shepherd dog “Riggs.” The two gained distinction last fall after Riggs was shot in the line of duty while the team participated in the apprehension of an alleged murder suspect in Kenosha County. 

A story about the apprehension made last fall is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/kenosha-county-k-9-team-of-deputy-tifft-riggs-honored-sunday-in-fort/.

Also honored was the K-9 team of handler Justin Stuppy and “Tilla.” Stuppy was formerly a member of the Whitewater Police Department, but made a career change last December. He serves today as a member of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Police Department. When Stuppy left the municipal department, he purchased Tilla from the city of Whitewater. He was then officially retired. Stuppy told those in attendance Sunday that retirement for Tilla lasted about one month. It was clear, Stuppy said, that Tilla wanted to return to work. Today the K-9 team is reunited and working with the UW-Whitewater department. 

A story about Stuppy’s career change and Tilla’s retirement is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/police-dog-k-9-handler-to-leave-whitewater-police-department/. 

During the program, Schumacher shared the names and photographs of 30 K-9s who had “crossed the rainbow bridge” over the last year. Many died while in retirement. As each name was read aloud, veteran K-9 handler Rick Hong rang a ceremonial and memorial “War Dogs” bell. 

A slide presentation honoring each of the fallen dogs is here: http://fortatkinsononline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/FINAL-COPY-K9-Veterans-Day-2022-PP-presentation-compressed-1.pdf.

Schumacher also updated those in attendance about the formation last year and subsequent progress of the Marine Terry Beck Protective Services Scholarship. The scholarship memorializes Beck and his German Shepherd dog “Seato.” Both were killed in action during Vietnam. Beck was a resident of Fort Atkinson. The scholarship will be offered to Fort Atkinson High School seniors and graduates entering the field of protective services.

During the presentation, Schumacher said the scholarship was formed with help from the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation. Last year, the kennel club sought donations of $15,000 to begin the scholarship. Schumacher noted that the fundraising efforts exceeded those expectations, with $20,000 in donations received to begin and fund the scholarship. 

A story about the formation of the Terry Beck memorial scholarship is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/k-9-veterans-day-observed-terry-beck-scholarship-announced/. 

Additionally, the program included a presentation made by War Dogs Association Chapter 3 Executive Director John Meeks, who, aided by a slide presentation, shared a history of war dogs and their handlers, with some emphasis placed on K-9 teams serving in Vietnam. Meeks was a K-9 handler during the war and is today the guardian of “Brutusz,” a retired U.S. Army dog whom he has adopted. Brutusz also was in attendance. 

During the presentation, Meeks talked about his own experiences in Vietnam while serving with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division as a K-9 scout dog handler. He worked with two dogs. The first was “Artus,” whom he credited with saving his life several times. He was killed in action Dec. 11, 1970. A second dog, a female German Shepherd, was left behind in Vietnam after Meeks shipped out. Meeks said many K-9s serving in Vietnam were left behind after U.S. forces exited the country. While a small fraction made it back to the United States, he said, most were abandoned, euthanized or given to the South Vietnamese military police. 

After the presentation, K-9 teams were invited to approach the podium where each handler was congratulated and thanked for their service by Jefferson County Sheriff Paul Milbrath and each dog was presented with a special dog treat made by Bon Ton Bakery in Jefferson. 

After K-9 teams were recognized, Schumacher recognized Milbrath for his service and support of K-9 Veterans Day and Milbrath recognized Schumacher with a Jefferson County K-9 Merit Award for her support of working K-9 teams. 

Among those in attendance Sunday were State Sen. Steve Nass and war historian and author Ron Werneth and his family. 

Update: a file of 23 dogs honored during the event was initially shared by organizers. The file and associated copy within the story have been updated to include 30 K-9s honored. Organizers have expressed regret for any confusion caused by the error. 

Photos from the event follow.