The Cass County Sheriff’s Office K9 teams say they are honored to accept the donation of two K-9 vests for the County’s k-9’s, “Kane,” and “Mufasa.” The vests will protect the dogs in dangerous situations, and are made possible thanks to a nationwide Groupon event sponsored by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

An example of the k-9 vest on a police dog in New Hampshire. (Vested Interest k-9’s, Inc. photo)

Groupon Grassroots is currently running an animal-related campaign to outfit police K9’s with bullet- and stab-protective vests through midnight on March 20th, 2013. Persons interested in purchasing a protective vest for k-9’s units across the country, can do so by donating $10 online at www.groupon.com/k9. 100-percent of the donations will benefit Vested Interest in K9’s, Inc., a non-profit organization and charity partner selected by Groupon Grassroots to participate. Your donation is tax deductible, and is made through a secure website. A partner  insurance company will match all donations up to $20,000. All proceeds will go towards protective vests for the law enforcement dogs who put their lives on the line for the community and their human partners.

The goal is to raise over $95,000 by the end of the event at midnight on March 20th, 2013, which will allow Vested Interest in K9’s, Inc., to outfit 100 police dogs with vests throughout the United States. The vests typically cost a little over $1,000 each, and each lasts for about 5-years.

**************

About Vested Interest in K9’s, Inc.: Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., is a 501c(3) all-volunteer charity located in East Taunton, MA, whose mission is to provide bullet- and stab-protective vests for law enforcement dogs throughout the United States. Each vest costs $950.00 and has a five-year warranty. The nonprofit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially life-saving body armor for their dog K9 officers. Through private and corporate sponsorships, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., provided 66 police dogs with protective vests in 2012. In September 2012, the non-profit hit a milestone of donating $100,000 worth of protective vests to law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.

The organization orders the US-made vests exclusively from distributor Regency Police Supply in Hyannis, MA, who also does the custom-embroidery on the body armor. New K9 graduates as well as K9’s with expired vests are eligible to be added to the organization’s waiting list.

President Sandy Marcal began working with law enforcement agencies in 2000 to coordinate efforts between various law enforcement agencies, vest sponsorships, fundraising events and the media within Massachusetts. In 2011, efforts were expanded to assist police dogs throughout the United States.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., currently has a list of over 20 police dogs needing vests. 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.