Our Beginning

Troy Dunkle- Founder

"Black Pad Coffee Company was created when a passion for coffee and a love for dogs collided.

I grew up with many animals and one of my first dogs was Bronco, named shortly after the first incredible display of thrashing and bucking on the night he was brought home from the rescue. Bronco was trained as a scent detection dog, his mission was to go into homes and businesses to locate harmful mold so that it could be removed. Years later I joined the U.S Army, although not a dog handler, I had the privilege of working with some incredible military working dogs. These dogs weren’t just incredibly effective assets but true members of the team.

I never knew what happened to military working dogs after they retired, it never really crossed my mind. One day I heard a story of a dog who reached the end of his service, the handler unable to adopt him, and the veterinarian deeming the dog unfit for adoption due to aggressive tendencies. I thought to myself, of course the dog has aggressive tendencies, he’s been chasing down Taliban insurgents for the last 6 years! Regardless of his incredible service to his handler, team, and country, he was euthanized.

Some of our best dogs, the ones who we sent into impossible situations, were being euthanized after their service because they were deemed unfit to be adopted.

I learned of some incredible nonprofits whose singular mission was to support these dogs. These nonprofits help reunite dogs with former handlers, assist with medical bills, provide rehabilitation, match disabled veterans with service dogs, and provide sanctuary for dogs that are having trouble transitioning from the operational environment. 

Our coffee is roasted with only two goals:

• Provide our customers with premium small batch coffee.
• Provide financial support to our nonprofit partners so they can help as many dogs as possible.

 All our law enforcement K-9's and military working dogs deserve a second chapter, and with your help, we can give them a great one."