Meet Protection Dogs At This Morris Co. Nonprofit's Open House

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Those looking for a protector, a fun afternoon, or both, have the opportunity this weekend at a Morris County-based nonprofit's open house.

On Saturday, Kelly's K9s: Tails of Courage will be hosting an open house at the Hanover Township Community Center, located at 15 North Jefferson Road in Whippany.

The free event, taking place from noon to 3 p.m., is sponsored by the Hanover Township Mayor’s Wellness Campaign. It will feature food trucks, protection dog demonstrations, vendors, kids’ activities, self-defense classes for women, and more.

Kelly's K9s is a nonprofit that trains and matches protection dogs with survivors of abuse. The organization was founded by Kelly Sutliff, an abuse survivor who has greatly benefited from protection dogs and hopes to do the same for others.

Read More: NJ Abuse Survivor Changing Lives With Protection Dogs

“This is my passion… I really feel like everything I’ve been through has put me into a place in life where I was always meant to be,” Sutliff previously told Patch. “It’s so healing for me to watch other survivors take their lives back through these dogs… You can go through the worst time of your life, and I know what that feels like… But there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and I feel like I’m living proof of that. Healing is possible, peace is possible, and safety is possible."

Kelly's K9s works in tandem with Metro K9 Academy to breed and train the dogs. The nonprofit trains and provides the dogs to abuse survivors for free.

The event is dedicated to Sutliff's first protection dog, Stella, who she says "changed the course of my entire life."

Visitors can also expect food trucks, merchandise, and even a puppy kissing booth.

Click here to learn more about Kelly’s K9s.