Police K9s receive donated protective vests

JENKINTOWN » The Jenkintown Police Department’s K9s, Kane and Lycan, received bullet- and stabprotective vests thanks to a charitable donation from nonprofit Vested Interest in K9s Inc.

The vests are sponsored by Camryn’s K9s, of Mansfield, Texas, and are embroidered with “Gifted by Camryn’s K9s.”

Vested Interest in K9s Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charity in East Taunton, Mass., whose mission is to provide bulletand stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The nonprofit was established in ment agencies with this potentially 2009 to assist law enforce- lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers.

Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s has provided more than 2,700 protective vets in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of more than $2.1 million.

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 is $950. Each vest is valued between $1,744 and $2,283, has a five-year warrantly and an average weight of 4 to 5 pounds.

There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s in the U.S.

Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s has provided more than 2,700 protective vets in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of more than $2.1 million.