Seymour Police K9 officers get protective vests

K9 Rex

K9 Zoar

SEYMOUR - Seymour Police Department K9s Rex and Zoar have each received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. 
K9 Rex’s vest was sponsored by Richard Kearns of RKFMX in Prospect and embroidered with the sentiment “Gifted by RKFMX Guided by Angels." 

K9 Zoar’s vest was sponsored by Robert Kezelevich of the Seymour Senior Citizens and embroidered with the sentiment “Gifted by Seymour Senior Citizens.”

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) charity in East Taunton, Mass. 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 nonprofit 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. has provided more than 3,100 protective vests in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of more than $5.7 million.

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 donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $950. Each vest has a value between $1,744-$2,283, a five-year warranty, and an average weight of four to five pounds. 

There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. 

For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, 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, Mass. 02718.

This is shared from the Seymour Police Department Facebook page.