K9 Mac To Receive Body Armor Donation: Village Of Buffalo Grove

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — Since joining the Buffalo Grove Police Department in June, K9 Mac has been a busy dog. The 2-year-old sable German shepherd performs narcotics detection, tracks and locates criminal suspects and missing persons, and conducts searches in different environments.

Soon, K9 Mac will be a bit safer in the field thanks to a donation of a bullet and stab protective vest. The donation comes from Veasted Interest in K9s, Inc., a non-profit organization. Officials believe the body armor will arrive in the next eight to 10 weeks.

K9 Mac's handler is Officer Shannon McMillon, who has been a member of the Buffalo Grove Police Department since 2014. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States.

RELATED: K9 Mac Sworn In As Newest Member Of Buffalo Grove Police Department

According to a news release from the Village of Buffalo Grove, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity 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 potentially lifesaving body armor is U.S. made, custom-fitted, and NIJ certified. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 5,379 vests to K9s in all 50 states at a value of $6.9 million, made possible by both private and corporate donations, since it began.

Vested Interest, based in East Taunton, Massachusetts, accepts tax-deductible contributions in any amount, while a single donation of $985 will sponsor one vest, valued at $1,800. The armor typically weighs an average of 4 to 5 pounds. For more information about Vested Interest, visit the organization's website here.