Congrats to K9s4COPs’ founder Kristi Schiller, who is being honored as a “Harvey’s Hero” Thursday on the “Steve Harvey Show.” The talk show airs at 3 p.m. on KRIV, Fox 26.

In 2010 Schiller founded the nonprofit group that supplies crime-fighting dogs to police departments around the country.

“In Houston alone,” she tells Harvey, “our K9s have resulted in over 400 arrests and taken $3.5 million worth of cash and over 85 weapons off the streets. We had one dog, in one night, do a $23 million bust. Why would you not want that for your department?”

Tight law enforcement budgets are to blame, she knows. That’s why she decided to step in with private funds.

“At K9s4COPs,” she tells the TV audience, “we feel that your safety shouldn’t be hindered, your streets should not be less safe, because of a budget cut.”

To date, Schiller and her organization have given 89 trained dogs to law enforcement agencies in 19 states. Of the eight officers who appear on stage to thank Schiller for her work, one is Ted Dahlin, an investigator for Harris County Constable Precinct 4.

Schiller was inspired to start K9s4Cops when she learned that Dahlin’s police dog, Blek, was killed in the line of duty. Without her help, Dahlin would have had to raise $10,000 to $15,000 to buy a new police dog.

Source: http://www.chron.com/entertainment/tv/article/Houstonian-to-be-honored-on-Steve-Harvey-show-6217604.php