A remarkable chapter in police K9 history began the day Brad Croft walked into a small shelter in Kirby, Texas. Among a group of abandoned dogs stood a quiet, strong-looking pit bull named Kiah. She stayed in the corner, still healing from a horrific injury — a blunt-force trauma to the skull. Staff told Croft she had been struck with a hammer before being rescued.
It was a miracle she survived. An even greater miracle was her gentle spirit. Despite the cruelty she endured, Kiah showed no fear, no anger, no hesitation toward people. Something about her resilience made Croft pause. As the operations director of UniversalK9, an organization that trains K9 officers without the massive cost of typical police dog programs, he sensed she might be capable of something extraordinary.
From Shelter Survivor to Rising Star
At first, training Kiah wasn’t easy. She didn’t know what was expected of her, and the early sessions were slow. But then everything changed. Her intelligence surfaced. She absorbed commands quickly, responded with focus, and started outperforming many of the other dogs in the program.
Within eight weeks, Croft knew the truth — Kiah wasn’t just trainable.
She was gifted.
“If we held a competition,” Croft said, “she would outwork the other dogs every single day. This dog is unbelievable.”
A New Beginning in New York
When the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department contacted UniversalK9 in search of a reliable K9 partner, Croft immediately thought of Kiah. The match was perfect.
Now, years later, Kiah works beside Officer Justin Bruzgul as a highly skilled narcotics and missing-persons detection dog. Her success didn’t just break barriers — it rewrote them.
She is officially the first pit bull police dog in the state of New York, and her impact continues to grow.
Recognition, Awards, and a Changing Narrative
Kiah’s journey earned national attention. She was honored with the ASPCA Public Service Award, celebrating her service, her bravery, and the powerful bond between humans and animals.
The ASPCA highlighted an important truth: when you help an animal, you often help a community. And Kiah is living proof.
Since Kiah’s rescue, UniversalK9 and the Animal Farm Foundation have helped place more than 20 pit bulls in police departments across the United States. Each success challenges harmful stereotypes and highlights what Croft has said all along:
“They’re good dogs. The real problem is the stigma. Kiah shows exactly who they really are — loyal, intelligent, and incredibly kind.”
He added one more line that defines her legacy:
“She’s so friendly, she wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
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