GENESEO: Sheriff
Thomas J. Dougherty reports that Sheriff’s K9 Vader will receive a bullet and
stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit
organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Vader’s vest is sponsored by an
Anonymous Donor and will be embroidered with the sentiment “Only the best
protection for man’s best friend”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten
weeks.
K9 Vader is a 3 year old Belgian Malinois certified in
patrol, tracking and narcotics detection. He is handled by Sergeant Chad Draper
of the Road Patrol Division, who also serves at the Sheriff’s Office K9
trainer.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located
in East Taunton, MA 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 non-profit was established in 2009 to assist
law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their
four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.
provided over 2,400 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and
corporate donations, at a cost of over 1.9 million dollars. All vests are
custom made in the USA by Armor Express in Central Lake, MI.
The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S.
with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20
months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are
eligible to participate.
The donation to provide one protective vest for a law
enforcement K9 is $1,050.00. Each vest has a value between $1,795 – $2,234 and
a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated
30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information
or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested
Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts
tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O.
Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.
