04/29/2026
𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
I wanted to share this letter that was sent to Sheriff Figueroa of the Ulster County Sheriff's Office (NY) post K9 K9 Law & Order 2026 seminar.
Please understand and recognize just how much your sponsorship is making an impact.
This is a team effort by all, Throw Away Dogs Project family, Ulster County K-9 Training Group, ALL of our Trainers and Decoys, all our Volunteers, and YOU the Sponsors made this possible.
THANK YOU 🙏🏼
Please take a moment to read the feedback. We are extremely grateful !
“Sheriff Figueroa,
My name is Paul McNamara, and I am a Board-Certified Veterinary Surgeon who lives and works in Dutchess County, NY. For almost thirty years I have had the privilege of working very closely with the Operational K9 community- from being “on the pile” after 9/11, to travelling to Indonesia with the State Department’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program to providing on-site veterinary care for the OpK9 Teams in Times Square on New year’s Eve. I also created a non-profit organization (ODIN’s Fund) that provides Basic and Tactical First Aid training for OpK9 Handlers for their K9 partners. These relationships have allowed me to attend countless training seminars throughout the world. As a “neighbor,” I wanted to let you know that the recent training seminar co-sponsored by K9 Law and Order and your Ulster County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit was one of- if not the- best OpK9 training seminars that I have ever attended. Every participant was given the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the K9 Industry. The venues were outstanding and the scenarios were diverse but pertinent to today’s K9 mission. Logistically, the event seemed to proceed flawlessly, and the participants all enjoyed the learning opportunities. There was a lot of networking and information sharing as well.
I have worked with the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit for over two decades and the Unit is consistently recognized as one of the best trained Units in the State. This event, however, showcased them on the National stage as an extremely competent, professional, and collegial group of handlers. While every man and woman in the Unit comported themselves with the highest level of professionalism, I want to single out Deputy Kyle Frano for his outstanding work, not only leading a technically challenging station, but, more importantly, being the lead UCSO representative for the entire event. Kyle has a reputation for excellence, but he went above and beyond this past weekend leading from the front and making sure that the entire seminar went off without a hitch. I may have even seen him smile (once)!
In a world that is too fast to criticize and woefully too slow to compliment, I wanted to let you know that your K9 Unit represented your agency extraordinarily well and demonstrated the highest standards of dedication and professionalism by creating this unparalleled training seminar. Kyle’s work and leadership helped create an atmosphere that left everyone highly satisfied and wanting more. My hope is that you allow this seminar to return next year as I am sure that it will be another extremely well-attended event and will highlight the extraordinary members of your K9 Unit. As always, if there is ever anything that I can do for you or your K9 Unit, please feel free to contact me directly,
Sincerely,
Paul S. McNamara, DVM, DACVS
•National Veterinary Medical Director- United States Police Canine Association
•Consulting Veterinarian- United States Bureau of Alcohol/Tobacco/Firearms/Explosives
•Subject Matter Expert- New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
•Tactical Veterinarian- Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office
•Veterinary Surgeon- Putnam County Sheriff's Office”
