News Releases

MCP K9 Lenker and K9 Brodie Receive Ballistic Vests

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Nationwide Groupon Campaign raises over $335,000 for law enforcement K9 protective vests

K9 Brodie and K9 Lenker have received ballistic vests thanks to a nationwide GROUPON EVENT that has raised over $335,000.00 for the cause.

The “Occasions” campaign for Groupon Grassroots to outfit police K9s with bullet and stab protective vests ran February 15 through March 5 of 2014 . Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. was the nationwide non-profit organization and charity partner selected by Groupon Grassroots to participate in the campaign.

During the online campaign, people were able to purchase a GROUPON, a tax deductible donation, through the Groupon website.  All funds raised from the campaign were allocated to purchase ballistic vests for law enforcement K9s.

From this campaign, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. will be providing over 350 law enforcement dogs nationwide with the protective body armor.  The giving of the armor will be 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.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, Massachusetts.  The charity's 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 nonprofit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since 2009, through private and corporate sponsorships, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.  has provided over 1317 law enforcement dogs in 49 states with protective vests at a total cost of over 1.2 million dollars.  Each vest costs $950.00 and has a 5 year warranty.

In 2013, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. partnered with Groupon and was named as one of “The Best of 2013” campaigns. In just one week, the nonprofit raised $155, 537.33, which provided ballistic vests for 163 law enforcement dogs in 30 states. There are an estimated 30,000 police dogs throughout the United States.

The organization orders the U.S. made vests exclusively from distributor Regency Police Supply in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

New K9 graduates as well as K9s with expired vests are eligible to participate in the program. The program is open to certified law enforcement dogs who are employed in the United States and are at least 19 months of age.

For more information about Vested Interest in K9s, including information about volunteer opportunities with the organization, please call 508-824-6978. Tax deductible donations and event listings are via the website: www.vik9s.org.

# # #

Release ID: 15-079
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: press-releases