Hounds, Heroes & Hope event to highlight K-9 assisted therapy, honor veterans and first responders

(FOX 2) - A local group is gearing up for a big event featuring K-9 assisted therapy.

Joining FOX  is:
Jason Foltz - C.O.O. Prevention Concepts 
David Dudek - Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer  
Danny Cusenza- Army Combat Veteran, Peer-Mentor, K-9 Handler

Prevention Concepts is a volunteer-driven nonprofit that aims to improve the quality of life for veterans and first responders through K-9 assisted activities and therapy. 

"As a result, we have the ability to donate specially trained police dogs to law enforcement, psyciatric service therapy, emotional support dogs to veterans and first responders," said Dudek. 

Also joining FOX 2 is Bice, a K-9 officer who will be working in narcotics, criminal apprehension and human tracking. She was named after Tammy Bice, a Grand Blanc city police officer who died by suicide a year ago.

"What we do is we honor the fallen hero, and we do that through our combat vets. It gives us an opportunity to connect some of our disconnected populations back to the dog, back to the community as the dog is donated," said Foltz .

Hounds, Heroes and Hope will be held from 6-10 p.m. at Greystone Golf Club, 67500 Mound Rd. in Washington Township. It's a community celebration where veterans and first responders will be honored, with hopes to create more awareness around mental health issues. Dudek said there will be speakers, including State Sen. Peter Lucido and former Lions quarterback Eric Hipple, raffles and more. FOX 2's own Amy Andrews will emcee the event.