Meet the team
Our team works together with our partner kennel at Ridgeside K9 Ashtabula to achieve success for our recipients. We would be honored to have the opportunity to show you what makes us stand out. Please feel free to reach out with any questions regarding our program or how you might be able to help.
Loki z Diehlomov is our Founder and CEO’s Service Dog and the Ambassador for K9 Heroes 4 Heroes. He is a Czech line German Shepherd adopted from the Deihl’s Police K9 Training Center. From the beginning his training was focused on his duties as a Service Dog and Ambassador to share our mission with the public. His constant companionship has proven invaluable to our Founder. His presence out in public brings education and awareness on the benefits of Service Dogs.
Fiona Glenann Von Cunningham is the Service Dog to Vice President, Meghan and Ambassador for K9 Heroes 4 Heroes Kansas City. She is a beautiful model of the Cunningham German Shepherd bloodline with an impressive pedigree. Fiona became part of the family at 8 weeks old and only 5 lbs. She quickly demonstrated all the traits needed to become a service dog and at 4 years old, trained and worked with Meghan after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Now cancer free, Fiona continues to work with Meghan but enjoys putting on her vest or “work mode,” pawing around with siblings Gretchen and James, and making a difference in the lives of everyone she meets. She embodies the Kansas City spirit and the K9 Heroes 4 Heroes mission in every way!
I founded K9 Heroes 4 Heroes out of extreme respect and admiration for anyone who has chosen to wear our nation’s uniform and those who have served their local communities. A deep sense of patriotism and respect for our veterans and first responders was instilled at an early age. This would be further reinforced by as friends and family who served in both wartime and peace. Spending time at the Virginia Military Institute and watching classmates enter Military service continued to foster this respect.
I am at a point in my life where military or first responder service is no longer an option. As I began to work with my own pet dog, a spark was ignited. I began to see the benefits of having a dog in one’s life. I began to work with the team at American K9 Dynamics and understand the proper ways to train dogs. As a result, the idea for K9 Heroes 4 Heroes was born. I would bring Loki into our family with the goal to be my Service Dog and the Ambassador for K9 Heroes 4 Heroes.
I was born and raised, along with my older brother, in the Kansas City area. I come from a very close-knit family with many veteran ties, including my Grandfathers (Army), Dad (Navy), Stepdad (Marines), and now my husband, Patrick, (Marines). I was always a tomboy/daddy’s girl growing up, i.e., getting dirty under the hood of a car, going on hunting or fishing trips, playing sports, or driving my Dad nuts playing with my dog. Ask anyone, I have never changed except my love and passion for my dogs growing more and more.
Fast forward to now, I have been working in the commercial real estate/property management industry since 2015 and love every minute of it. In 2019, I was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. During my treatment, my husband suggested that we have my German Shepherd, Fiona, trained to be my service dog. Working and training Fi kept my mind, body and spirit going despite everything. Today, I’m 4 years cancer free and have the best service dog I could ever ask for.
I met Joe Gionti with K9 Heroes 4 Heroes in 2022. Given my passion for my service dog and having a strong veteran family background, everything fell into place. My husband and I are proud to lead the K9 Heroes 4 Heroes Kansas City Chapter. I’m so proud of the incredible ambassador Fiona is for K9 Heroes 4 Heroes and the difference she makes in the lives of anyone she meets. With my family, friends and of course, my dogs, we are looking forward to truly fulfilling our mission!
