Satellite Beach Police Department’s K9 Astor To Get Body Armor Thanks To Donation
By Space Coast Daily // March 1, 2016
donated by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc
BREVARD COUNTY • SATELLITE BEACH, FLORIDA – Satellite Beach Police Department’s K9 Astor will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.
K9 Astor’s vest is sponsored by Alan Miller and MFC Brevard Motorcycle Club of Palm Bay, Florida and will be embroidered with the sentiment “Protected by MFC Brevard MC.”
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 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. has provided more than 1,700 protective vests in 49 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over $1.6 million.
All vests are custom made in the USA by Armor Express in Central Lake, MI.
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 – $2,234 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 pounds.
There are 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 Vik9s.org