SENATOBIA — The Tate County Sheriff’s Office said its K-9s, Soul and Stuccie, have received new bullet- and stab-protective vests through a donation arranged by the nonprofit Vested Interest in K9s Inc.
The sheriff’s office said the vests were sponsored by Don and Misty Fike of Galesburg, Illinois, and were embroidered with the message: “Born to Love- Trained to Serve-Loyal Always.”
Vested Interest in K9s Inc., founded in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides protective vests and other assistance to law enforcement K-9s nationwide, the group said. The organization said the vests are U.S.-made, custom-fitted and certified to National Institute of Justice standards.
Since its founding, the nonprofit said it has provided more than 6,225 vests valued at about $6.9 million to K-9s in all 50 states through private and corporate donations. The group said its program is open to U.S. law enforcement dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified, and that K-9s with expired vests may also be eligible.
Protective vests are intended to reduce the risk of injury to working dogs from gunfire and stabbings, and many agencies rely on donations and nonprofit programs to outfit their K-9 units, experts say.
