The Southaven Police Department in Mississippi will equip K9 officers Raptor and Zargo with bullet- and stab-resistant vests through a donation from the non-profit group Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., the department announced on Facebook.
The vests, sponsored by the charity, will be embroidered with the message “In memory of K9 Luca, DeSoto County, MS – EOW 2/21/24.” Delivery is expected within ten weeks.
Vested Interest in K9s, founded in 2009, provides protective gear to law enforcement dogs across the United States. The organization has supplied more than 6,225 vests valued at $6.9 million, all U.S.-made, custom-fitted, and certified by the National Institute of Justice.
The charity’s program is open to active duty law enforcement K9s at least 20 months old, including those with expired vests. An estimated 30,000 law enforcement dogs work across the country.
Vested Interest accepts tax-deductible donations of any amount. A donation of $1,050 sponsors one vest, which costs $1,800, weighs about 4 to 5 pounds, and includes a five-year warranty. For more information, call (508) 824-6978 or visit www.vik9s.org.
