Thanks to a nationwide Groupon event that has raised more than $335,000, Boomer, the Whitewater Police Department’s K9 recently received a ballistic vest.
The “Occasions” campaign for Groupon Grassroots to outfit police K9s with bullet and stab protective vests ran Feb. 15 through March 5. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. was the nationwide, nonprofit organization and charity partner selected by Groupon Grassroots to participate.
The online $10 donation suggested interested persons purchase a Groupon (tax deductible donation) through the secure website where all funds were allocated to purchase ballistic vests for our four-legged crime fighters who put their lives on the line for the community and their partner.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. will be providing more than 350 law enforcement dogs nationwide with the protective body armor in memory of K9 Rocco of the Pittsburgh Police Department who sacrificed his life in the line of duty in January 2014.
All vests will be embroidered with the sentiment, “In Memory of K9 Rocco, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.”
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has a calendar on sale now through Feb. 1, 2015 for $15 online at www.vik9s.org. Proceeds from the sales will provide bullet and stab protective vests. All goods and services for the calendar were donated by generous sponsors, photographers and participating law enforcement agency, for police dogs actively working without the potentially lifesaving equipment.
Additionally, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc a 501c (3) organization is still accepting donations through their website: www.vik9s.org and via mail P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.
In 2013, Vested Interest partnered with Groupon and was named as one of “The Best of 2013” campaigns. The nonprofit raised $155,537.33 in just one week, which provided ballistic vests for 163 law enforcement dogs in 30 states. There are an estimated 30,000 police dogs throughout the United States.
These dogs put their lives on the line every time they go out on a call, they are doing what they can to support their communities and fellow officers, so taking care of them is of the utmost importance, this doesn’t just include making sure they have the right supplies, but also treating them after a long day with things like bully sticks for dogs, for example, as well as other doggie-type treats as they have seen a lot with their time in the field and need to be looked after in many different ways.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA. Their mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States.
Each vest costs $950 and has a 5-year warranty. The nonprofit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 Officers.
Through private and corporate sponsorships, they have provided more than 1125 law enforcement dogs in 40 states with protective vests since 2009.
The organization orders the U.S. made vests exclusively from distributor Regency Police Supply in Hyannis, MA, which also does the custom embroidery on the body armor.
New K9 graduates as well as K9’s with expired vests are eligible to participate. The program is open to law enforcement dogs who are U.S. employed, certified and at least 19 months of age.
For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities and upcoming events, call (508) 824-6978 or visit www.vik9s.org
