Investing in their safety
Veterinarians provide funds for tactical K9 protective gear
Police dogs in Yuma will be well protected and better equipped to do their jobs thanks to the efforts of a veterinary clinic and the area businesses and community members who donated enough money to purchase three protective tactical vests for the department’s canine officers.
According to the city of Yuma, Desert Veterinary Clinic set up a donation fund that allowed people to make voluntary contributions. These funds were then placed into a protected donation account at the city, which will use the money to purchase the tactical K9 vests, which cost about $1,000 each.
Julie Johnson, the office manager for Desert Veterinary, said Dr. Cheryl Haugo, the clinic’s owner, has always wanted to do something to help the police department’s K9 unit and thought this would be a good way to do it.
“We wanted to do something to make sure the canine officers were safe while they were working,” Johnson said.
In addition to all the individual donors who contributed to the cause, Evans Concrete, JSA Co. and Yuma Kennel Club made generous large-dollar donations.
Officer Zach Miner said the vests will greatly benefit his next K9 partner, as well as the department’s other dogs that will receive them.
“It is a huge help for us, so we would like to thank the community for the money they raised for the vests,” Miner said. “It is just a blessing. We really appreciate it so much that the community supports our dogs and our program. It means the world to us.”
Oftentimes K9 officers are the first ones to encounter a suspect so, depending on the situation, they can be in the most danger, which is why it is so important that they be as safe as possible.
Miner said the canine tactical vest is made of the same ballistic material as a human officer’s vest and protects the dog from shootings and stabbings.
He added that, unlike those of their human partners, K9 vests are not worn like a uniform and are only used as needed when there is an in-
creased level of danger. They are also just as good as the one he wears.
The tactical vests cover the dog’s chest and sides, protecting its vital organs. Anything more, Miner said, would actually inhibit them.
The canine tactical vests Yuma police currently use are nearing the end of their useful life span, but the department has enough funds to cover all of their dogs in service.
Miner explained one canine is currently being trained, and if put into service, that dog will be provided a vest from these funds.
The remaining money will stay in the account to buy tactical vests for dogs that will be put to service in the future.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 5396854. Find him on Facebook at www. Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.