Southaven K-9s receive bullet, stab protective vests

Two Southaven police K-9s have received bullet- and stab-resistant vests, the Southaven Police Department said in a Facebook post.

The department said the vests for K-9s Raptor and Zargo were sponsored by the nonprofit Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. and were embroidered “In memory of K9 Luca, DeSoto County, MS – EOW 2/21/24.”

According to the post, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., founded in 2009 and registered as a 501(c)(3) charity, provides U.S.-made body armor that is custom-fitted and certified by the National Institute of Justice. The organization said it has provided over 6,348 vests valued at $6.9 million to K-9s in all 50 states and that an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K-9s serve nationwide.

The post said the program is open to U.S. dogs at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies; dogs with expired vests also may qualify. Vested Interest said a single donation of $1,050 will sponsor one vest, each vest has a value of $1,800, weighs about 4 to 5 pounds and comes with a five-year warranty. For more information, the organization lists a phone number, (508) 824-6978, and a website, www.vik9s.org. We will provide more information as it becomes available.