The Alison Marie Wildman Foundation was established by her family in 2002 to honor the memory of the 30-year-old Bridgewater resident who loved animals and who was tragically killed in the World Trade Center terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001.     

Over the past decade the Alison Marie Wildman Foundation has had a very special relationship with the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit.  Donations from the foundation have been used for body armor, dog food, veterinary bills and training aides. The foundation has donated approximately $20,000 to the Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit over the past 11 years.

Because of this special relationship, the Somerset County Sheriff’s K9 Unit is naming its newest bloodhound in memory of Alison Wildman.

On Oct. 15 Alison’s father, Arthur Wildman, came to the Sheriff’s Office for what he believed would be a ceremonial thank-you plaque presentation.  Instead, he was introduced to “Wildman,” the newest member of the K9 Unit.  Representatives from PNC Bank, which administers the foundation trust, also were in attendance.

“We are proud and honored to dedicate our new K9 member’s name in Alison’s memory,” said Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano.  “This is a tribute not only to Alison but to her family and to the foundation that was established in her name, which has so generously supported our K9 unit for over a decade.”

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit was established by Sheriff Provenzano in 2003. The three-dog unit consists of narcotic scent-detection dog Dano, handled by Capt. Tim Pino; explosive-detection canine Nemo, handled by Officer Al Bauer; and human scent-tracking canine Boone, who is retiring and will be replaced by Wildman in 2014, handled by Officer Thomas Wallace.   

“This past year has been very special and humbling for the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit,” said Capt. Pino, the unit’s commander.  “First we had Gov. Chris Christie name a law after our K9 Dano and now we are dedicating the name of our newest K9 in memory of Alison Wildman. None of this happens without the great support we get on a daily basis from Sheriff Provenzano.”