Nicole Arbelo works in Special Education in the Bay Area, specializing in work with deaf and hard of hearing students at a High School level. Nicole has her Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Studies.
Her lifelong love of dogs began as a child in Florida, when a faithful family German Shepherd braved a near-fatal rattlesnake bite to save Nicole from the snake.
Several years ago, Nicole’s desire to support American troops serving overseas, via such organizations as Soldier’s Angels, and Anysoldier.com, led her to the story of Marine Sgt. Adam Cann, who also hailed from Davie. Sgt. Cann was killed in action in Iraq, but his beloved Military Working Dog, Bruno, was now serving with Corporal Justin Granado, with whom Nicole struck up a deep friendship.
It wasn’t long before Nicole’s sending of care packages and exchanging emails, had blossomed into even more friendships with those who had known Sgt. Cann, as well as other K-9 handlers and their families and friends, including those on active duty, as well as those who had given their lives in their country’s service. It was at the urging of those servicemen and women, and their surviving loved ones, that Nicole determined to gather and preserve their amazing stories of duty and courage.
Their stories, and the photographs they share, make up Nicole Arbelo’s first book, K-9 Heroes.
Nicole's one site alone on Facebook, "K9 Heroes," has well over 9,000 fans and is bringing people together to continue her quest to make sure all K9 handlers and MWDS have what they need through care packages.
***Note: The book had some revisions and the new copy right is January 2010
Nicole's book is also now available on Kindle.
