Middletown K-9 Diezel To Receive Body Armor

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Middletown Police K-9 Diezel will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., the police department announced on Tuesday. K-9 Diezel’s vest is sponsored by Sonitrol New England of Rocky Hill and will be embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Sonitrol New England.” Delivery is expected within eight to 10 weeks.

“I am so excited to get this vest for my K-9 partner Diezel sponsored by Sonitrol,” Officer Aura Smith said in a press release. “As part of my daily uniform I wear a ballistic vest to keep myself safe so I can go home to my family every night. It only makes sense that my K-9 partner be afforded the same level of protection. K-9 Diezel and I spend more time together than any member of my family and I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to him. I'm so thankful to be getting the peace of mind that he is protected by this K-9 vest from Vested Interest.” Read more from the press release below:

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, Mass., 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 K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 2,800 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 2.4 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 K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $950. Each vest has a value between $1,744 – $2,283 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 pounds. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, 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.

Photo via the Middletown Police Department