Sevier News Messenger Sevier County News and Opinion
Sevier County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that it has received a new bullet and stab protective vest for K-9 Dasko, thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. The protective vest was sponsored by an anonymous donor and is embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.”
Dasko is a 3-year-old Belgium Malinois in service with the Sheriff’s Office for approximately two years and is handled by Officer Ransom Douglas. The Sevier County Sheriffs Office has received a total of four vests from the charity for other dogs in its K-9 unit.
Sevier County Sheriff’s Officer Ransom Douglas with K-9 Dasko
Sheriff Seals states that he would like to thank Vested Interest in K9s for the donation of the vest to the Sheriff’s Office for K-9 Dasko and other K-9s in the division.
“The generous donation of the vest by the Vested Interest in K9s organization will help to ensure K-9 Dasko’s safety as he serves and protects the residents, visitors and police officers of Sevier County,” Seals said.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) charity located in East Taunton, Mass. 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 non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s provided over 1,600 protective vests, in 49 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 1.5 million dollars. All vests are custom made in the USA by Armor Express of Central Lake, Mich.
The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 19 months of age. New K-9 graduates, as well as K-9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.
The suggested donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K-9 is $1,050. Each vest has a value between $1,795 – $2,234 and a five-year warranty. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K-9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.
