VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office (VBSO) K9s - Pablo, Apollo, and Boyka – officially have their own trading cards.
Each glossy card, the size of regular baseball and football trading cards, features the K9 in full color with eye-popping, movie-poster-like backgrounds. The cards also list the dogs’ breeds, dates of birth, what they’re trained in and other fun facts. The cards are produced by K9 Hero Cards out of Michigan.
“The VBSO K9 Unit is proud to announce the acquisition of K9 Hero Cards for all its K9 deputies. These cards showcase each K9’s unique role within the office, highlighting their skills, training, and dedication to serving the community,” said Lt. Lisa Clark with the VBSO’s Criminal Intelligence Unit, which includes the K9 Unit. “The VBSO K9 Unit and its handlers regularly participate in community events and public demonstrations. Providing K9 Hero Cards allows us to engage with citizens of all ages while offering a token of appreciation for their continued support. These cards serve as a fun and educational way for the public to learn more about the vital work our K9 teams perform in keeping Virginia Beach safe.”
The cards will be shared at upcoming community events attended by the K9 deputies and their handlers.
The VBSO K9s are:
- Pablo joined the VBSO in 2022. He is trained and certified in narcotics detection. He is a Belgian Malinois born on Jan. 9, 2021. His handler is Master Deputy II Anthony Natalzia.
- Apollo joined the VBSO in January 2024. He is trained in obedience, area and building searches, courier (people) searches, and can detect six different kinds of narcotics, including fentanyl (the first in the Hampton Roads area). K9 Apollo is also a Belgian Malinois born on Nov. 22, 2020. His handler is Master Deputy IICrystal Repass, the VBSO’s first woman K9 handler.
- Boyka joined the VBSO in November 2024. He is trained and certified in explosive detection. Boyka is a Dutch Shepherd born on Nov. 15, 2023. His handler is Sgt. Aaron Whitehead. Sgt. Whitehead is a Virginia Police Work Dog Association (VPWDA) Certified Explosive K9 Trainer and the VBSO’s first certified K9 Trainer.
The VBSO K9 Unit started in 2013. In FY 2024, the unit conducted 187 operational searches, which secured six felony drug convictions, including against inmates found with narcotics in their possession.
K9 Hero Cards aims to educate and explore the world of working dogs. The company also wants to show “the public how K9s protect their communities and keep them safe. What better way to give a dog a voice than with their very own collector cards? If every time a community member meets a K9, and they walk away with a keepsake that tells the dog’s story and creates a connection, it strengthens that bridge,” according to k9herocards.com .
For more information, contact Public Information Officer Toni Guagenti at tguagenti@vbso.net or 757-385-8446.