UPDATE ON MAY 29, 2019:
A local K-9 officer is wearing a new vest. Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc. donated a bullet and stab protective vest to Saline County Sheriff’s Office K-9, Piper. Tara-Leigh Bruso and family run the non-profit organization to raise money to buy these vests in honor of her father, William F. Bruso, Jr.
This charity, located in East Taunton, Massachusetts, started in 2009 with the mission is to provide vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States.
SCSO Dep. Burton Latture and K-9 Piper.
Overall, they have provided over 3,300 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-9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.
The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K-9 is $950.00. Each vest has a value between $1,744 – $2,283, a five-year warranty and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K-9s throughout the United States.
For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K-9s, 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.
PREVIOUSLY ON MARCH 1, 2019:
K-9 Piper at Saline County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc.
The vest is sponsored by a fundraiser hosted by Tara-Leigh Bruso and family. Bruso’s father was a Maine State Trooper and one of the first there to be part of the K-9 unit. This vest will be embroidered in his memory with the sentiment, “In honor of William F. Bruso Jr.” Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.
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 K-9s, Inc. provided over 3,300 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-9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.
The cost to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K-9 is $950.00. Each vest has a value between $1,744 – $2,283 a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K-9s, 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.