Frederick Police Department K9’s Bady, Gino, Joker and Maaska have received body
armor
Frederick
Police Departments K9’s Bady, Gino, Joker and
Maaska has received a 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 embroidered with
the sentiment "In memory of Paul Jolly, The Petco Foundation".
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 2.1 million dollars.
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.