What inspired harlows heroes
my Story
A Moment To a Mission
My Story | My Why
Hi! My name is Krista and I am the Founder of Harlows Heroes. From 2016-2021 my children and myself became the victims of domestic violence. We survived a situation that many unfortunately don’t. It’s now my mission to not only be a voice and advocate for those impacted by domestic violence, but to create hope and be a source of light for the K9 Community.
On the last call I ever made for due to domestic violence, there was a moment that’s always stayed with me: hearing K9 Barrett barking from the cruiser. That sound meant safety. It meant someone was there, standing between me and everything I’d spent years trying to survive.
Harlows Heroes was built because of that moment. Because of Barrett. When I got into a better place, I wanted to give back and create something that would help the very community that provided me with so much comfort in my time of need. This wasn’t about finding purpose or making sense of what happened to us. It was about creating light when all I could see was darkness. Harlows Heroes became that light — for me, for others, and for the K9 teams who stand between us and the dark every single day.
Why Harlows Heroes Was Created
I didn’t set out to create a nonprofit. I just wanted to find a way to say thank you.
One dog changed everything for me. K9 Barrett opened my eyes to just how important these teams are and how little support exists for them once their job is done. What started as a way to give back to him and create something to support him and his handler for the day he hung up his badge, turned into something bigger. Because Barrett never got the chance to retire.
Harlows Heroes was created to make sure every K9 Team always has a place to turn; in the everyday moments and the life shattering ones. Because every dog deserves the proper care they’ve earned and every handler deserves to have support when they need it most. Although K9 Barrett never got to retire, his legacy lives on through the work that we do through Harlows Heroes, ensuring that the next generations of K9’s and handlers always have someone in their corner.
Who Is k9 Barrett?
K9 Barrett was Montville Police Departments first Patrol K9, but more than that, he was OUR Police Dog.
From the moment they hit the streets, Officer Witts & K9 Barrett served with unmatched dedication, not only in protecting the community but in becoming a real part of it. He wasn’t a dog people only saw in emergencies. You’d see Barrett at schools, camps, farmer’s markets, and community events – teaching kids and families about what K9 teams do and how they help keep everyone safe.
K9 Barrett wasn’t just a dog you’d see when something went wrong. He was a constant presence in our community, showing up for the good moments just as much as the hard ones.
There was such a sense of pride in having K9 Barrett in our town. We had bragging rights just because he was our police dog. We weren’t just grateful for him; we were proud of him. We really believed we had the best and he was ours. That connection Barrett and Officer Witts created helped shape not only the success of the K9 Program at The Montville Police Department but what Harlows Heroes would later become. It showed us just how important these teams are not just for their service, but for what they represent.
A Career Of Service & Sacrifice
His Story
Throughout his career, K9 Barrett and Officer Witts served with unmatched dedication. Together, they responded to over 100 calls, with 103 successful deployments — locating narcotics, firearms, wanted suspects, and missing individuals. Barrett was also one of the first police working dogs in the country to be saved by Narcan, a testament to both his resilience and the risks these teams face every day.
In 2021, while apprehending a fleeing felon armed with an illegal firearm, K9 Barrett was struck multiple times in the head and face. The injuries he sustained that day led to a fatal brain bleed. While his handler and family remained hopeful, they were eventually given the devastating news: the bleed had tripled in size, and there was nothing more that could be done. Even after his diagnosis, K9 Barrett continued to show up alongside his handler. Right up until the end, he kept doing what he loved most: serving the community that loved him just as much in return.
“Although his tour of duty is growing short, K9 Barrett continues to report to work, eager to serve the citizens of Montville and our neighboring communities. Officers Witts and K9 Barrett are a team that continually acted in the highest tradition of the Connecticut State Police and the Montville Police Department. He will be sorely missed.”
— Montville Police Department
On June 1, 2023, K9 Barrett was honorably laid to rest. His loss was felt deeply across his department, his community, and everyone whose life he touched, whether they knew him from a deployment or simply from seeing him at a local event.
Though Barrett is no longer here, his legacy lives on in every dog and every K9 team we support today. It is our honor now to carry that legacy forward through the work we do at Harlows Heroes.
Forever #9532.
His Legacy | Our Mission
Forever #9532 – Is a Promise
If you’ve seen our logo, our gear, or anything we put out, you’ve probably noticed the number: #9532.
Where does it come from? What Does it Mean?
#9532 was the badge number of K9 Barrett — Montville Police’s first patrol K9, and the very reason Harlows Heroes exists.
Harlows Heroes was originally created with one simple goal: to support K9 Barrett when he retired. To make sure he had the care and comfort he earned after a career of service. Unfortunately, Barrett never got the chance to retire or receive any of the care that he had inspired. But I knew we started this for a reason and Barrett’s purpose in life was always bigger than himself. We then thoughtfully created our logo, complete with the numbers 9532.
We wanted to make sure everyone knew, this is all because of him.
K9 Barrett is the heartbeat of Harlows Heroes.
Everything we do is because he never got to recieve the support he inspired, so we made it our mission to make sure no other K9 is left without it.
Every dog we help, every K9 team we stand beside, is all because of him.
#9532 is a promise:
To never stop showing up for the dogs who show up for us.
K9 Barrett – Our Police Dog
The Heart of Our Town.
He Didn’t Just Protect Us, He Brought Us Together, Gave Us a Sense of Pride and Truly Became apart of Our Community.
Why Your Support Matters
K9 Barrett gave everything he had to his community and through Harlows Heroes, his legacy lives on.
But we can’t do it alone.
When you support Harlows Heroes, you make sure that no K9 team is left without help when they need it most — whether it’s for emergency medical care, retirement support, or end-of-life services.
Your support ensures that the care K9 Barrett never got to receive is there for every dog who comes after him.
Together, we carry his legacy forward. Forever #9532.
Join Us in Honoring Our K9 Heroes
Your support can make a lasting impact for the teams we help, join our mission today!