K9 Nero and K9 Bruno, of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, recently each received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to the efforts of Vested Interest in K9s, Inc, a Massachusetts based nonprofit organization.
The made to order vests were recently delivered and will provide protection for each K9 from bullet and stab wounds as well as blunt force trauma.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) all volunteer charity located in East Taunton, Massachusetts, whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests for law enforcement dogs throughout the United States. New K9 graduates as well as K9’s with expired vests are eligible to apply for the ballistic vests. Each vest costs $950.00 and has a 5 year warranty. The nonprofit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies by purchasing potentially lifesaving body armor for their four legged K9 Officers. Through private and corporate sponsorships, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 435 law enforcement dogs with protective vests since August of 2009. Over $400,000 in K9 vests have been donated in 36 states including Alaska and Hawaii.
Two recent events made it possible for the charity to provide 217 vests for our four legged crime fighters across the country. In January 2013, a regional Groupon Grassroots campaign naming Vested Interest in K9s as a charity partner raised over $55,000 which allowed the donation of 53 K9 vests and a nationwide Groupon campaign in March 2013 raised over $155,000 providing vests for 163 K9s in 30 states.
Each vest is made and custom embroidered in Central Lakes, Missouri by Armor Express and distributed exclusively by Regency Police Supply in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
For more information about Vested Interest in K9s visit www.vik9s.org or call 508-824-6978.
