Hellertown Nonprofit Donates Dog Food, Supplies to NC Prison K-9

A local nonprofit is continuing its mission of helping local law enforcement and criminal justice organizations care for the working dogs who contribute so much to public safety.

Sheepdog Cigar Club Inc. President and corrections officer Brian Peck of Hellertown visited the Northampton County Prison in Easton Friday to present a substantial donation of dog food, treats, toys and chews to prison officials and K-9 Dani.

Sheepdog Cigar Club is a recently-formed social club and 501(c)3 organization for first responders, including police, fire, EMS and dispatch, as well as corrections officers and members of the military (active duty, retired or honorably discharged).

Part of its mission is to support K-9s who “with unmatched loyalty, fearlessness and eagerness to serve…are the true Sheepdogs of our community.”

To fulfill that mission, members raise money by making modest cash donations every time they attend a cigar club meetup, which is known as a “Sheepdog Social.” The meetups are held three times each month at locations around the Lehigh Valley area.

The club currently has about 30 members from Pennsylvania and New Jersey who are also responsible for collecting cigars that are donated to Operation: Cigars for Warriors, a charity that sends cigars to U.S. active-duty combat troops serving overseas.

Peck founded the club last year and as president has organized several donations to local K-9 units, including one in November for Bethlehem Police Department Accelerant Detection K-9 Silver, a 2-year-old yellow Lab who even has her own Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Both Silver–whose handler Bethlehem Detective/Deputy Fire Marshal Doug Nothstein–and Dani were given a year’s supply of items necessary for their care.

In addition to their website, you can also find more information about Sheepdog Cigar Club on the group’s Facebook page.