Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office K9 Officers Receive Body Armor

Wagoner County Sheriff's Office K9s, Edo and Max, will receive bullet and stab protective vests as charitable donations from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

K9 Officer Edo's vest is sponsored by Elaine Miller of Lillington, North Carolina, and will be embroidered with the words 'Protect both this K9 and his handler.' 

K9 Officer Max's vest is sponsored by an anonymous donor and will be embroidered with the sentiment 'In Loving Memory of Scrawny.'

The WCSO expects to receive the vests within eight to 10 weeks. 

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, Massachusetts, 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 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, according to Vested Interest. The vests weigh an average of 4-5 lbs. 

There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States, the organization said. 

For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, call 508-824-6978 or visit Vested Interest In K9s' website.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol K9 Officer Dak recently received a donated vest from Vested Interest in K9s.

11/21/2016 Related Story: Oklahoma Highway Patrol K9 Officer 'Dak' Receives New Body Armor