EL PASO COUNTY – Thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., El Paso County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Knox will soon be sporting some new gear.
In eight to ten weeks, the K-9 officer will receive a bullet and stab protective vest.
The vest is sponsored by Paula Reyer of Peyton, in memory of her mother, Lynn D. Rayer.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Vested Interest in K-9s, 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 K-9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 3,200 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 K-9 graduates, as well as K-9’s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.
