Shelton Police K-9 to receive protective vest

K-9 Officer Daniel Loris and K-9 Stryker./Contributed photo

SHELTON - The Shelton Police Department’s K-9 Stryker will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from the nonprofit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. 

K-9 Stryker’s vest is sponsored by Margaret Miles of Shelton, and will be embroidered with the sentiment “In loving memory of Therapy Dog Sandy”. 

Delivery is expected within eight to 10 weeks.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located 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. provided over 2,000 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over $1.7 million.

All vests are custom made in the USA by Armor Express in Central Lake, Mich. 

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 $1,050. Each vest has a value between $1,795 and $2,234 and 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, 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, Mass. 02718. 

K-9 Officer Daniel Loris and K-9 Stryker graduated the Connecticut State Police K-9 Academy in May, 2015. K-9 Stryker is a 2½-year old German Shepherd.  

The team was recognized as the Daniel Wasson Award recipient upon graduation. K-9 Officer Loris and K-9 Stryker have assisted in numerous investigations in Shelton and assisting other local law enforcement agencies.

The Shelton Police Department K-9 Unit extends its gratitude to the Vested Interest in K9s Inc. and Margaret Miles for their assistance in providing K-9 Stryker with his bulletproof vest. 

This is a press release from the Shelton Police Department.