Firehouse Subs Honors Real-Life K-9 Heroes With New Plushie Collection
Firehouse Subs is giving guests a new way to celebrate the dogs who serve alongside first responders every day, and this time, the tribute comes in plush form.
The firefighter-founded sandwich chain is marking National First Responders Day by launching the Firehouse Subs K-9 Crew, a limited-edition collection of three plushie pups modeled after real-life K-9 heroes. The collection hits participating Firehouse Subs locations nationwide starting Oct. 28, with each plushie selling for $9.95 while supplies last. Every plushie purchase sends 100 percent of net profits to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which has funneled more than $112 million into lifesaving gear and resources for first responders since it launched in 2005.
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Meet the Real Dogs Behind the K-9 Crew
Firehouse Subs
The collection isn't just cute merchandise; it's a tribute to three working dogs with real resumes. Stone, a golden retriever, is a search-and-rescue K-9 who has responded to major disasters across the country, including the Surfside condo collapse. Ember, a Dalmatian , serves alongside the Sevierville Fire Department in Tennessee, where she helps teach the community fire safety. And Echo, a German shepherd with the Sartell Police Department in Minnesota, has helped locate missing people and detect threats since joining the force in 2023 through a grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
"As a brand founded by firefighters, honoring those who answer the call is at the heart of everything we do," said Mike Hancock, president of Firehouse Subs, in a statement. Robin Peters, executive director of the foundation, added that the collection gives guests a tangible way to support the K-9s and departments doing this work every day.
Another Way To Give Back on Launch Day
Firehouse Subs
The plushies aren't the only way Firehouse Subs is marking the occasion. On Oct. 28, the brand will also donate 100 percent of every Hook & Ladder sub purchase, excluding taxes, to the Public Safety Foundation. The sandwich, a menu staple since the company's 1994 founding, layers smoked turkey, honey ham and melted Monterey Jack with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo and deli mustard on a toasted roll. The fundraiser applies to in-restaurant, app and online orders.
Between the K-9 Crew plushies and the one-day sandwich fundraiser, Firehouse Subs is offering two low-effort ways for animal lovers and first-responder supporters alike to give back. It's a sweet, paw-friendly nod to the dogs who work just as hard as their human partners, and proof that sometimes the best way to say thank you is with a cuddly reminder of who's out there keeping communities safe.
This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Oct 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
