MBTA Transit
Police Department’s K9 Striker to get donation of body armor
MBTA Transit Police Department’s K9 Striker will receive
a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from
non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Striker’s vest is sponsored by a fundraiser hosted by
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. and Thin Blue Line USA and will be embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of Sgt.
Sean Gannon, Yarmouth Police Dept”. Delivery is
expected within eight to ten weeks.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East
Taunton, MA 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, Inc. provided over 2,900
protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a
value of $5.7 million dollars.
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 $950.00. Each vest has a value between $1,744 – $2,283
and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an
estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more
information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call
508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. 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.
media inquiries should be directed to Superintendent Richard Sullivan at rsullivan@mbta.com
