At Silent Hero Coffee Company, we proudly donate a portion of our coffee sales to K9-focused nonprofits. We will also invest those funds in purchasing essential medical and protective gear for police K9 departments across the country.
Hello coffee lovers! I’m Damien, the owner and founder of Silent Hero Coffee Company. I started Silent Hero Coffee Company with a mission to help support retired Police/working K9s. As a civilian Veterinary Technician with nearly 20 years of experience working mostly in surgery —15 of which were spent working alongside U.S. Customs and Border Protection—I’ve had the privilege of working with over 20 local, state, and federal K9 departments, caring for hundreds of incredible dogs.
I’ve also had the privilege of working with Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisperer) over the last 10 years. Overseeing his Florida East coast dog psychology center workshops.
Sadly, I’ve witnessed many dedicated handlers personally spend tens of thousands of dollars on surgeries or cancer treatments for their retired K9 partners. This burden shouldn’t fall on them; the government should provide lifelong medical benefits for these brave K9s.
For 10 years, I lived on-site at the animal hospital and pet resort where I worked as a Veterinary Technician. My role went beyond regular hours—I provided after-hours emergency care for active working K9s and boarding pets while also working full-time in the hospital during the week, mostly in surgery and as the on-site property manager, I took care of everything required to keep the facility running smoothly.
Before my journey with animals, I gained a wide range of hands-on experience. I attended IT school, worked at a machine shop and spent time in the field of aviation. Briefly I lived in Roswell, New Mexico, working on airplanes—though, sadly, I didn’t encounter any aliens!
Additionally, I held roles at a private country club as a food server and IT technician, ran my own moving and handyman business on weekends, and assisted in TV commercials.
With my unique skill set, living on the property was a natural fit. I could care for the animals, manage backup power during outages, handle hurricanes etc. and tackle any repairs or maintenance required to keep the 8-acre, 30,000-square-foot facility operating at its best. Whether it involved fabricating, welding, or general repairs, I ensured the resort and hospital always operated at their absolute best.
As you can tell, I work a lot! Coffee and dogs have always been a big part of my life. Whenever I traveled, I’d seek out small coffee shops to enjoy a great cup of coffee or cappuccino. Unfortunately, the mainstream coffee chains just didn’t hit the mark for me. That’s when I decided to buy a small coffee roaster and learn how to roast my own coffee!
The difference between freshly roasted coffee and what I was getting at mainstream chain coffee shops was undeniable—there was simply no comparison. That’s when I knew my mission: to craft the freshest, highest-quality roasted coffee possible!
I wanted to make a difference for dogs on a larger scale. The idea of selling coffee and using the proceeds to support retired working K9s while raising awareness about their struggles after retirement felt like the perfect combination. And with that, Silent Hero Coffee Company was born!