he El Paso County Sheriff’s Office’s K9s Nash, Axel and Blitz have received ballistic vests thanks to a nationwide GROUPON EVENT that has rose over $335,000.00. Axel is 5 years old, started with the agency June of 2010, and he is a German Shepherd Dog. Blitz is 5 years old, started with the agency in September of 2011, and he is a German Shepherd Dog. Nash is 2 years old, started with the agency in April of 2014, and he is a Malanois.
The “Occasions” campaign for Groupon Grassroots to outfit police K-9’s with bullet and stab protective vests ran February 15 - March 5, 2015, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. Vested Interest in k9s, Inc. was the nationwide non-profit organization and charity partner selected by Groupon Grassroots to participate. The online $10 donation suggested interested persons purchase a GROUPON (a 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. announces their “Hog Wild for k9s” T-shirt is now available online for a $15.00 donation at www.vik9s.org. Proceeds will provide bullet and stab protective vests, for police dogs actively working without the potentially lifesaving equipment. Vested Interest in k9s, Inc. will be providing over 350 law enforcement dogs nationwide with the protective body armor in memory of K-9 Rocco of the Pittsburgh Police Department, who sacrificed his life in the line of duty in January of 2014. All vests will be embroidered with the sentiment, "In Memory of K-9 Rocco, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police". 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 in k9s, Inc., partnered with Groupon and was named as one of “The Best of 2013” campaigns. The nonprofit organization raised $155, 537 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.
ABOUT VESTED INTEREST IN K9S, INC.
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. Each vest costs $950.00 and has a 5 year warranty.
The Non-Profit was established in 2009, to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four legged K-9 Officers. Through private and corporate sponsorships, Vested Interest in k9s, Inc. provided over 1387 law enforcement dogs in 49 states with protective vests since 2009, at a cost of over $1.3 million dollars.
The Organization orders the U.S. made vests exclusively from distributor Regency Police Supply in Hyannis, MA., who also does the custom embroidery on the body armor. New K-9 graduates, as well as K-9's with expired vests are eligible to participate. The program is open to law enforcement dogs who are US employed, certified and at least 19 months of age. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Tax deductible donations and event listings are via the website: www.vik9s.org.