Clarksville Police Department’s K9 Unit to get donation of dog body armor

Little Rock, Arkansas – The Clarksville Police Department announced that Gram, a K9, will receive a donation of specialized dog body armor.

Thanks to a charity gift from a non-profit organization, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., K9 Gram will get the bullet and stab protection vest in a few months.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization called Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. was founded in 2009 with the goal of helping law enforcement dogs across the country by giving them protection vests against stabs and bullets as well as other aid.

The National Institute of Justice, which establishes and updates voluntary minimum performance standards for body armor, conducts testing against these standards to ensure that body armor complies with the standards, and sponsors research to improve body armor, manufactures the lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers in the United States, has it custom fitted, and has certified it.

With the help of corporate and private donations, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has given more than 4,845 vests to K9s in all 50 states, totaling $6.9 million.

U.S. dogs that are at least 20 months old, actively employed, and certified by law enforcement or associated agencies are eligible for the program.

K9s with out-of-date vests are still welcome to compete.

Each vest has a five-year warranty and is projected to cost between $1,744 and $2,283. It weighs about 4-5 pounds on average.

Any amount may be donated to Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. tax-deductible donations. One vest can be sponsored with a single donation of $960.

Call 508-824-6978 for additional details or to find out about volunteer possibilities. You can donate to Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. by mailing your donation to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718. The organization offers information, details events, and accepts donations online.