Shelton Police K9 'Stryker' Receives Protective Vest

SHELTON, CT — Shelton Police K9 Officer "Stryker" has received the bullet and stab protective vest ordered last summer, thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. the vest's sponsor, Margie Mills of Shelton.

Embroidered on the vest is the sentiment “In loving memory of Therapy Dog Sandy,” Mills' former therapy dog. The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $1,050, and each vest has a value of between $1,795 – $2,234 and a five-year warranty. The average weight of a one of these vests is about 4-5 pounds.

Miles adopted Sandy from the Shelton Animal Shelton in 2002. Sandy became a therapy dog in 2003 and was very active in the Shelton Community, participating in the high school play “Annie,” participating in the “Youth Connection,” and spending a lot of time at Griffin Hospital and Wesley Village with patients.

According to the Shelton department, Vested Interest in K9s, 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 K9 officers."

Since 2009, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 2,100 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over $1.9 million. All vests are custom made in the U.S. by Armor Express in Central Lake, MI.

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. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, call 508-824-6978 or visit www.vik9s.org.

Photo: From left, Officer Daniel Loris, K9 Stryker, and Margie Miles. Photo credit: Shelton Police Department