The Frederick Police Department is proud to announce that due to the generosity of Vested Interest in K9s, Inc all of the Department’s patrol K9’s will soon be equipped with life protecting vests.
Frederick Police Department K9’s Bady, Gino, Joker and Maaska to receive body armor
Frederick Police Departments K9’s Bady, Gino, Joker and Maaska will receive bullet and stab protective vests thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. The four K9 vests are sponsored by the Petco Foundation and will be embroidered with the sentiment "In memory of Paul Jolly, The Petco Foundation". Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.
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 2,300 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 Petco Foundation recently awarded Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., a $7,500 grant as part of its annual Helping Heroes fundraising campaign, in partnership with Natural Balance Pet Foods. During the campaign each October, customers are invited to donate online and in Petco stores across the country to support life-changing work of service and therapy animals and working animals.
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 are 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.
About the Petco Foundation
The Petco Foundation, believes that every animal deserves to live its best life. Since 1999, they have invested more than $175 million in lifesaving animal welfare work to make that happen. With more than 4,000 animal welfare partners, they inspire and empower communities to make a difference by investing in adoption and medical care programs, spay and neuter services, pet cancer research, service and therapy animals, and numerous other lifesaving initiatives. Through the Think Adoption First program, they partner with Petco stores and animal welfare organizations across the country to increase pet adoptions. So far, the Petco Foundation has helped more than 5 million pets find their new loving families. Visit petcofoundation.org to learn more about how you can get involved.
Release Prepared by Sgt. M.E.Pue, III
PIO: Michelle Bowman