About Friends of Littleton K9

Dedicated to strengthening our community through K9 unit funding

Friends of Littleton K-9

Mission Statement

Friends of Littleton K9 supports the Littleton Police Department’s K9 Program by funding the purchase, training, support, and medical care of apprehension and support K9s. Through fundraising and community outreach, we help educate the public about the essential role these K9s play in serving, supporting, and protecting Littleton, Colorado.

How Friends of Littleton K9 Began

The roots of our mission trace back to the long and proud history of the Littleton Police K9 Unit. The program first began in 1963 with K9 Hans and returned in 2008 with a renewed commitment to safety, service, and community trust. As the program grew, a group of Citizen Academy Alumni united to offer steady support. That commitment became Friends of Littleton K9.

Today, we continue that promise by helping fund training, equipment, medical care, and outreach for the K9 teams protecting our community.

LPD K9 Unit
Police patrol with dog. Selective focus on german shepherd in harness.
Friends of Littleton K-9

Committed to Littleton’s K9 Success

Friends of Littleton K9 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the Littleton Police Department’s K9 Program. We fund the purchase of all patrol and support K9s, along with their training, safety equipment, and medical care.

Through the dedication of our volunteers, we host fundraisers, support community outreach events, and educate the public about the vital role K9s play in public safety and community well-being.

All proceeds from fundraising go directly to the Littleton Police Department’s K9 Program.

Friends of Littleton K9 is a 100% volunteer-based organization, and no board members or volunteers receive compensation.

To learn more about the Littleton Police Department’s K9 Program, visit the LPD K9 Unit page.

EIN: 83-4476577

Meet Our Board

Friends of Littleton K-9

Debra Hughes

President
Debra Hughes has served as President of Friends of Littleton K9 since May 2025 and has been actively involved...

Debra Hughes

President

Debra Hughes has served as President of Friends of Littleton K9 since May 2025 and has been actively involved with the organization since 2018. She brings extensive fundraising experience and is highly engaged with the Littleton Police Department and the community through the Littleton Police Citizen Academy Alumni Association (LPCAAA) and Community Safety Volunteer (CSV) programs.

Debra is passionate about dogs and dedicated to supporting those who serve and protect the community.

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Friends of Littleton K-9

Carole Downey

Vice President
Carole Downey joined Friends of Littleton K9 in 2017 after participating in the Littleton Police Citizens Academy.

Carole Downey

Vice President

Carole Downey joined Friends of Littleton K9 in 2017 after participating in the Littleton Police Citizens Academy. She has been an active member of the organization for eight years, previously serving two years as a Member at Large and currently serving as Vice President.

Carole is passionate about supporting the K9 officers and their dogs and cherishes the friendships she has built through her work with the organization.

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Friends of Littleton K-9

Jenn Ryan

Treasurer
Jenn Ryan joined Friends of Littleton K9 in 2020, initially serving as Secretary before being elected Treasurer in May 2025.

Jenn Ryan

Treasurer

Jenn Ryan joined Friends of Littleton K9 in 2020, initially serving as Secretary before being elected Treasurer in May 2025. She brings strong organizational and financial leadership to the Board, helping support the long-term sustainability of the organization.

A photo of K9 Officer Bandit and his handler, Officer Parker Choate, featured in the Littleton Report inspired Jenn to get involved — uniting her love of dogs with her passion for supporting a cause dedicated to protecting and serving the Littleton community.

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Friends of Littleton K-9

Michelle Tatnall

Secretary
Michelle Tatnall has been volunteering with Friends of Littleton K9 since May 2015.

Michelle Tatnall

Secretary

Michelle Tatnall has been volunteering with Friends of Littleton K9 since May 2015. She became involved after participating in the Littleton Police Citizen Academy and completing a ride-along with Officer Jones and K9 Koda, an experience that sparked her deep interest in police K9s and their vital role in public safety.

Michelle is passionate about ensuring that K9s are cared for both on and off patrol and believes these dogs deserve the highest level of support as they work alongside their human partners to keep the community safe.

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Friends of Littleton K-9

Dave Hughes

Member at Large
Dave Hughes joined Friends of Littleton K9 in 2019 and currently serves as a Member...

Dave Hughes

Member at Large

Dave Hughes joined Friends of Littleton K9 in 2019 and currently serves as a Member at Large, with responsibility for media and communications. He brings years of experience volunteering with charitable nonprofit organizations and considers his involvement with Friends of Littleton K9 among the most fulfilling.

Now retired, Dave enjoys music — including practicing and recording drums and keyboard — and values the strong sense of community that comes from supporting Friends of Littleton K9.

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