Georgia Police K-9 Foundation Helps Protect Four-Legged Officers

ATLANTA – An Atlanta not-for-profit organization has made protecting police K-9 officers its mission by outfitting them in gear that allows them to safety do their jobs while raising awareness for the work that four-legged members of local law enforcement agencies carry out on a daily basis.

The Georgia Police K-9 Foundation recently vested K-9 Cairo, a 2-year-old Belgium Malinois that is part of the Atlanta Police Department, with a LOF Streetfighter vest. Cairo is the 98th K-9 officer that the group has vested and is the third within the Atlanta Police Department to receive protective equipment.

The vests provided by the K-9 Foundation are specifically designed to be protective and yet, lightweight, which keeps K-9 officers from becoming burdened by heavier vests, representatives from the foundation said. In Georgia, with heat index readings sometimes topping 100 degrees, the lightweight vests protect K-9 officers from heat exhaustion or heat stroke. The fabric in the vests keep the dog’s body temperature regulated, which allows them to work a full shift while remaining completely protected.

The vests are also bullet resilient and shield K-9 officer’s vital organs during the apprehension of suspects, which can sometimes put K-9 officers in dangerous situations.

“The Georgia Police K-9 Foundation could not be more excited knowing that we have assisted in the protection of our K-9 officers against work-related injuries or worse yet, death,” the group said in a news release announcing the equipment donation.

K-9 Cairo is described as a dog who loves family time and meeting people around Atlanta but takes the most satisfaction doing his job as part of the Atlanta Police Department. Whether he is taking narcotics off the street, locating articles or tracking, Cairo loves his job, foundation officials said.

To date, the Georgia Police K-9 Foundation has provided 34 heat alarms, 30 narcan kits, 15 first aid kits as well as other training equipment to area law enforcement agencies in addition to the 98 vests it has provided to K-9 officers.

The foundation recently provided vests to K-9 officers Ringo and Chakron of the Atlanta Police Department and continues to provide support for four-legged officers who assist law enforcement in doing its job.