Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office K9 will be receiving a ballistic vest thanks to a nationwide Groupon Event that has raised over $335,000.
Deputies Kenneth White and Aquiles
The “Occasions” campaign for Groupon Grassroots to outfit police K9’s with bullet and stab protective vests ran early in the spring.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. was the nationwide non-profit organization and charity partner selected by Groupon Grassroots to participate. The online tax deductible $10 donation suggested a purchase of Groupon through the secure website where all funds were allocated to purchase ballistic vests for four-legged crime fighters.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. will be providing over 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.
All vests will be embroidered with the sentiment, “In Memory of K9 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 non profit raised $155,537.33 in 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.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity 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 U.S.
Each vest costs $950 and has a 5-year warranty. The nonprofit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially life saving body armor for their four legged K9 Officers.
Through private and corporate sponsorships, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 1,000 law enforcement dogs in 39 states with protective vests since 2009.
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.
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