Home » Cocoa Police Department’s K9 Bear, Copper, Kable, and Kyra to Receive Donation of Body Armor

Cocoa Police Department’s K9 Bear, Copper, Kable, and Kyra to Receive Donation of Body Armor

By  //  February 21, 2020

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K9 Bear, Copper, Kable, and Kyra will receive bullet, stab protective vests

ABOVE VIDEO: Cocoa Police Department Officer Dan Rhoades spoke about his recent televised appearance on the A&E Network’s “America’s Top Dog” program in which Rhoades and his K9 companion, Bear, competed and won against four other dog/handler tandems from departments across the country.

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – Cocoa Police Department’s K9 Bear, Copper, Kable, and Kyra to receive a donation of body armor.

Cocoa Police Department’s K9 Bear, Copper, Kable, and Kyra will receive bullet and stab protective vests thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

The vests are sponsored by Staten Island Companion Dog Training Club NY and will be embroidered with the sentiment “Gifted by SICDTC, Staten Island, NY”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) 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.

Cocoa Police Department’s K9 Bear, Copper, Kable, and Kyra will receive bullet and stab protective vests thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 3,700 U.S. made, custom-fitted, NIJ certified protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a value of $6.9 million dollars.

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 $950.00. Each vest has a value between $1,744 – $2,283 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs.

There are 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, MA 02718.

Cocoa Police K9 Bear Wins A&E’s ‘America’s Top Dog’ Episode, Advances to National FinalsRelated Story:
Cocoa Police K9 Bear Wins A&E’s ‘America’s Top Dog’ Episode, Advances to National Finals
Cocoa Police Department’s K9 Bear, Copper, Kable, and Kyra will receive bullet and stab protective vests thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. (Cocoa PD image)
Cocoa Police Department’s K9 Bear, Copper, Kable, and Kyra will receive bullet and stab protective vests thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. (Cocoa PD image)

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