Even the Snyder Police Department’s four-legged officer deserves protection from bullets and knives.
Police Chief Brian Haggard announced today that Lucas, the department’s narcotics detection dog, will be the recipient of a bullet and stab protective vest, courtesy of a donation from a Massachusetts charitable organization.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., provides protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States.
The department should receive the vest within six to eight weeks, Haggard said.
“Quite a few police dogs have been killed or wounded in the line of duty,” Haggard said. “The company provides money for vests to smaller departments that can’t afford to buy one.”
The vests are similar to those worn by human officers and are designed to stop most small-caliber bullets and knives.
“It’s just like the ones the officers wear every day,” Haggard said.
The donation from Vested Interest in K9s was for $950.
Each vest has a value of at least $1,700 and a five-year warranty and an average weight of 4-5 pounds.
The program is open to dogs actively employed in the United States with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age.
There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement canines in the U.S.
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