ABout us
Who We are
Don Culp, Pro-Leash founder & CEO along with Matthew Zarrella, Master K-9 Trainer & product consultant have teamed up to expand the Pro-Leash brand of high quality K-9 products. It all started with the patented nylon dual length leash system and has grown into the use of new high-tech leash materials (Brahma), training accessories, working dog trailing leads and much more.
Who is Matthew Zarrella
Matthew Zarrella has been a leader in K-9 Search & Rescue training since 1991. As a Rhode Island State Trooper, he developed and led the department’s first SAR K-9 program—pioneering a standard still in use today.
Over his career, Matthew handled six canines across multiple scent disciplines, including human remains detection, wilderness search, disaster recovery, water search, trailing, explosives detection, and article search. He not only trained dogs for these specialized roles but also mentored K-9 units in law enforcement, fire services, and volunteer organizations throughout the region.
In the final years of his service, Matthew transitioned into explosives detection, handling his own K-9 partner in high-risk scenarios. He also authored the first official K-9 SAR standards for both the Rhode Island State Police and the State of Rhode Island—cementing his role as a national authority in the field. His work was nationally recognized and became the inspiration behind the Netflix film Rescued by Ruby, which highlights one of his real-life success stories in Search & Rescue.
