Police Dog at Troop C Gets New Vest

TOLLAND, CT — Ugo, a State Police dog stationed at the Troop C barracks, is receiving a protective vest designed to thwart bullet and stab wounds via the charitable organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

Ugo’s vest is sponsored by Curtiss Ryan Honda of Shelton and will be embroidered with the sentiment “Donated by Curtiss Ryan Honda - Blue Paws Matter,” police said.

Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks, police said.

Ugo has been assigned to Trooper Pieter Groot since 2014 and the team is currently working at Troop C in Tolland. Ugo is a 4-year-old German Shepherd and trained in all aspects of handler protection, evidence recovery, building searches and tracking.

Ugo completed the Connecticut State Police Human Remains Detection course (wilderness/disaster/crime scene) and has been a member of the Search and Rescue Team since September 2014.

Ugo is trained in all aspects of cadaver/blood/bone detection and live find search techniques.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 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 nonprofit organization was established in 2009 and, through private and corporate donations, has provided more than 2,400 protective vests in all 50 states at a cost of more than $1.9 million. All vests are custom made in the USA 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 old.

The suggested donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $1,050. Each vest has an average weight of 4-to-5 pounds and has a value between $1,795 to $2,234 and a five-year warranty. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement dogs 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 Credit: CSP