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Last updated on Wednesday, May 6, 2015
(BLOOMINGTON) - Indiana State Police dog Drogos, a certified patrol canine, will be receiving a ballistic vest thanks to a nationwide Groupon event that raised more than $335,000.
The "Occasions " campaign for Groupon Grassroots to outfit police K9's with bullet and stab protective vests ran February 15th through March 5th.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. was the nationwide non-profit organization and charity partner selected by Groupon Grassroots to participate. The online $10 donation suggested interested persons purchase a GROUPON (a tax deductible donation) through the secure website where all funds were allocated to purchase ballistic vests for our four-legged crime fighters who put their lives on the line for the community and their partner.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. announces their "Hog Wild for K9s" t-shirt is now available online for a $15.00 donation at www.vik9s.org. Proceeds will provide bullet and stab protective vests, for police dogs actively working without the potentially lifesaving equipment.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. will be providing more than 350 law enforcement dogs nationwide with the protective body armor in memory of K9 Rocco of the Pittsburgh Police Department who sacrificed his life in the line of duty in January of 2014. All vests will be embroidered with the sentiment, "In Memory of K9 Rocco, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police".
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. a 501c (3) organization is still accepting donations through their website: www.vik9s.org and via mail P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.
In 2013, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. partnered with Groupon and was named as one of "The Best of 2013" campaigns. The nonprofit organization raised $155, 537.33 in just one week, which provided ballistic vests for 163 law enforcement dogs in 30 states. There are an estimated 30,000 police dogs throughout the United States.
Indiana State Police K9 Trooper Allen Deel said, "Thanks to Vested Interest in K9's, I will be able to breathe a sigh of relief knowing Drogos will now be protected with his vest when he is out doing his job."
Trooper Deel and K9 Drogos graduated a 14 week K9 training school in October of 2014. Drogos is a two year old German Shepherd from Poland and is a certified patrol canine through the International Police Working Dog Association (IPWDA). Drogos' skills are tracking, drug detection, bite apprehension and locating missing articles or evidence that has been dropped by a suspect of a crime.
In Drogos' first 6 months on the road he has assisted troopers and officers of several other agencies locate approximately 11.5lbs of marijuana, 8.5 grams of cocaine, 60 grams of methamphetamine, 9 grams of heroin, 1 gram of crack cocaine and the seizure of more than $15,000 in cash.
K9 Drogos has also had a successful track and apprehension of a wanted violent felon that caused havoc for more than 5 hours in the Bloomington area.
About Vested Interest In K9s Inc.
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. Each vest costs $950.00 and has a 5 year warranty. The nonprofit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four legged K9 Officers. Through private and corporate sponsorships, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 1359 law enforcement dogs in 49 states with protective vests since 2009 at a cost of over $1.2 million dollars.
The organization orders the U.S. made vests exclusively from distributor Regency Police Supply in Hyannis, MA., who also does the custom embroidery on the body armor.
New K9 graduates as well as K9's with expired vests are eligible to participate. The program is open to law enforcement dogs who are US employed, certified and at least 19 months of age.
For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Tax deductible donations and event listings are via the website: www.vik9s.org
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