When Max Hansen left his wife and son to serve our country in the US Navy, he never expected to bring home years of trauma from the experiences the Navy had in store for him. The trauma lingered unmitigated until he heard about the program K9 Elite, and his loyal companion Tyr came into Hansen’s life. Since then, he’s had a furry friend to rely on whenever the going gets tough. 

With the help from K9 Elite and Tyr, Hansen is now able to face every day with a smile, a little bit more hope, and an extra “helping paw” to aid in day-to-day activities at home and at work. 

To help others like Max, Powell residents recently gathered for a night of auctions, food, and honoring veterans and first responders receiving a service dog at the K9 Elite foundation fundraising banquet, held Nov. 7, 2025 at Heart Mountain Hall, to pass down the torch to future service dogs helping veterans and first responders on their path towards recovery.

Event host and K9 Elite owner Wes Mangus provides the funds, training and dogs, creating a stress-free program for recipients.

“Veterans and first responders usually don’t have enough money to afford a dog,” Mangus said. “So I decided to help raise the money for veterans who truly need them.” 

A completed application and an interview later, veterans have the chance to receive a dog through K9 Elite. This program has changed recipients’ lives for the better, providing a paw to hold onto and rely on, not only with work and service but also with companionship. 

Monica Leahy, who served in the Marine Corps, received a dog through K9 Elite. 

“This was an emotional yet reliving moment for me,” Leahy said. “And for the first time in a long time, I felt seen and heard when I received my dog with K9 Elite.” 

Jarrid Geving heard about Mangus’s program and decided to help by becoming his partner. 

“I wanted to place young pups into veterans and first responders’ hands,” Geving said. “I wanted them to be able to build that bond with their owner before they went into training instead of getting a trained dog and then trying to build that bond.” 

Through that partnership, K9 Elite has been a successful and reliable fundraiser that not only helps veterans and first responders but also makes Powell residents realize how much our veterans and first responders do for our country and freedom.

At the banquet, Powell residents take time out of their evening to celebrate veterans getting a dog – they cheer, clap, and support one another and this program as they participate in the silent and live actions, listening to speeches, and honoring and remembering veterans and first responders. 

“We decided to establish a community function that would help raise the money to pay for these dogs,” Mangus said. “And then whatever we can raise that night will basically pay for the following year’s worth of dogs.”

This program is a community effort that will continue to grow and help veterans along the way. The impact of K9 Elite will be remembered as the community remembers the high price others have paid in service to our country.