Unbreakable Bond: Chris & K9 Tambo’s Journey of Strength, Survival and Service

About this episode

Chris Bingham shares the journey of his retired K9 partner Tambo as they face health challenges together.

What happens when the bond between a K9 handler and his retired working dog is tested by something no training can prepare them for? In this episode, federal law enforcement officer Chris Bingham shares the powerful, behind-the-scenes story of his retired K9 partner, Tambo — a dog who served with unwavering loyalty and is now facing one of the toughest battles a family can experience: hemangiosarcoma, a fast-moving and often terminal diagnosis in dogs. Chris describes how he and Tambo first became partners, how their bond deepened over years of working side by side, and what it really looks like to help a working dog transition into retirement after a lifetime of service. But what makes Chris and Tambo’s story especially compelling is how they’ve chosen to respond to hardship. Rather than turning inward, they’ve become a source of strength and encouragement for others — offering support to both dogs and humans facing life-altering health challenges. Their journey also highlights the critical role organizations like Project K9 Hero play in supporting retired working dogs who no longer have funding for their care. This episode offers an intimate and honest look at the loyalty…

People in this episode

Host: Erin Scott

Guest: Chris Bingham

Topics covered

• K9 partnership
• retired working dogs
• health challenges
• resilience
• loyalty
• service dogs

Keywords

• K9 handler
• hemangiosarcoma
• working dog
• retirement
• bond
• support
• health challenges

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Project K9 Hero

More episodes of Believe in Dog

• REPLAY: You Don’t Have to Train Everything: How Smart Management Can Change Your Dog’s Behavior Today with Juliana DeWillems · December 22, 2025 · 51 min
• The Missing Piece in Dog Behavior: Are You Meeting Your Dog’s Needs? with Kim Brophey, Dog Behavior Expert · November 24, 2025 · 52 min
• Dog Mom Self-Care: Why taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do for your dog · November 3, 2025 · 1h 23m
• Grey Muzzles & Golden Years: Supporting Senior Dogs Every Step of the Way with Helen St. Pierre · October 20, 2025 · 1h 7m
• Second Chances: How Shelter Dogs Bring Redemption and Hope to Incarcerated Youth · October 6, 2025 · 1h 15m
• Why we should all care about BSL: A Pit Bull Advocacy Story with Cait Conroy and Ilona Price of PG Pet Unity Project · September 22, 2025 · 1h 12m