Searching for Bodies? Turn to Redemption Road

With eyes glued to news stories involving mission persons, cold cases, or searching for bodies in a lake, enter Jewish canine expert John Anthony Shahor, who operates LED Law Enforcement Dogs for the 21st Century.

Redemption Road Canines is an innovative training model that merges canine science, forensic methodology, and trauma-informed practices in active field investigations.

Shahor stated, “Redemption Road K9 wasn’t born in a boardroom — it was born in the mud. I sketched the business plan on a yellow legal pad in L.A. after being told I wasn’t cut out for dog training. I’d been volunteering and working with dogs around the city when I realized the company I needed didn’t exist. I didn’t grow up with dogs, so I approached the craft methodically — reverse-engineering how many dogs I needed to work with weekly to hit 10,000 hours in five years. I drew inspiration from Seattle’s best customer service brands, aiming to deliver that same consistency in dog training.”

They’ve supported missing person cases, cold cases, gravesite searches, and scent detection missions. In a recent Lake Oconee case, his dogs joined an interagency search. Later, one of his dogs found a suicidal man in time to save his life. Most recently, he participated in Operation Lost Trails – The Search for Justice, a collaborative missing persons search in Macon. Agencies involved included the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI), Twiggs County Sheriff’s Department, the Dublin Judicial Circuit DA, GA-CERT K9, and the La Sierra University Criminal Justice Department. The mission doubled as field training for Shahor’s criminal justice students enrolled as registered apprenticeship participants.

This story has multiple levels of interest as Shahor, who is a practicing Jew, is the son of a Black father and Jewish mother. Sometimes to his chagrin, Shahor or his children are passed over and judged based on appearance. He explained, “I grew up in Seattle, Wash., in the Seward Park neighborhood, the Central District, Ballard and Wedgwood — places known for having vibrant African American and Jewish communities. These rich cultural roots shaped who I am. My mother was born in The Bronx. Though we weren’t observant, we were deeply spiritual.”

Shohar consults with police departments across Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, California, and Washington, though not all partnerships can be disclosed. He supports K9 peak performance in nutrition, injury rehab, Reiki, tracking, trailing, aggression training, and more. He is also a certified decoy but doesn’t “take bites” for every agency. His Law Enforcement Dogs for the 21st Century Program, featured in La Sierra University’s Criminal Justice Department, reflects the six pillars of 21st-century policing, including community trust, oversight, technology, and officer wellness. Courses include: Dogs & Drones Tactical Integration; Compassionate Policing for the 21st Century; and Tactical K9 First Aid.

Shohar is also known for his prison work with Pawsitive Pathways Program, a trauma-informed initiative teaching incarcerated participants canine care, animal-assisted intervention, and workforce skills as part of the U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program.

Certifications offered: Tactical K9 First Aid & CPR; K9 Nutrition & Wellness; Kennel Operations; and AAI-21 Fundamentals.

For Tikkun Olam, Shohar deepened his Jewish observance by developing Mitzvot and Mutts, a guide to integrating dog ownership into traditional Jewish life. He’s inspired by Proverbs 12:10, “A righteous person cares for the needs of their animal.”

Here are five foundational dog training principles grounded in his Jewish values:
* Lead with Kindness (Tza’ar Ba’alei Chayim) – Like mitzvot approached with love, dogs respond best to compassionate leadership.
* Establish Structure – Dogs thrive on routine, just as we do with Shabbat, prayer, and kashrut.
* Use Clear Communication – Most “bad” behavior stems from confusion; training is a dialogue.
* Respect the Bond – Like our spiritual practices, the human-dog bond must be nurtured with intention.
* Embrace Growth Together – Just as we aim to elevate ourselves spiritually, training is mutual transformation.

Shohar also does private client training on all breeds (specializing in working dogs like Malinois and Shepherds), hiking groups, therapy dog certification, and urban public access sessions. For pet suitability, they guide families on breed compatibility, especially for high-drive or sensitive dogs. And even an occasional cat, mostly for integration with dogs.