A K9 member of the Elmira Police Department will be safer when he goes on patrol thanks to a charitable donation of a bullet and stab protective vest.
K9 Grady will be protected by a vest provided by a nonprofit organization, Vested Interest in K9s Inc., when he’s in the field with his handler.
Grady’s vest was sponsored by Eve R. Hershkowitz of Brielle, N.J. and embroidered with the sentiment “Gifted by Eve R. Hershkowitz, Brielle, NJ.”
Grady has been with the police department for about six months and has been partnered with his handler, Officer Jacob Overbeck, since mid-February.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States.
The body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S. made, custom fitted, and National Institute of Justice certified.
Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided more than 6,603 vests valued at $6.9 million to police dogs in all 50 states, made possible by both private and corporate donations. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States.
Each vest produced by Vested Interest in K8s has a value of $1800, weighs about four to five pounds, and comes with a five-year warranty.
The program is open to U.S. dogs at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate.
To learn more, or to donate to support the program, call 508-824-6978, or go to vik9s.org. Contributions can also be mailed to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, Ma. 02718.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Nonprofit provides Elmira Police Department K-9 with protective vest
Reporting by Jeff Murray, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jeff Murray, Elmira Star-Gazette | USA TODAY Network
