2017 K-9 Calendar Features Manchester-By-The-Sea K-9 and other Massachusetts K-9s Proceeds to Help Support Massachusetts Poli

The Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog 2017 Calendar, featuring all Massachusetts police dogs, including Westford Police Department’s K-9 Misty and Detective Peladeau, as well as an adorable puppy-in-training is now available online and at select businesses for a $10 donation.

Proceeds from the calendars will support Massachusetts police dogs, by helping provide ballistic vests, essential equipment, and funding for training and the purchase of dogs for K-9 work.

Preview the calendar and see the list of business where the calendar is available on the organization’s website, www.mavestadog.org.

This is the eleventh calendar offered by the non-profit, and exclusively features the work of photographer David Shilale, whose extraordinary efforts successfully captured K-9s (and their handlers) at work.

As a special “thank you” for calendar donors, a complimentary Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog window decal (a $2 value) is included with all calendars!

“While our calendar touches peoples’ hearts, by showing K-9s at work and play, each calendar brings something new and fresh…this year we have included Westford Police Department’s K-9 Misty and partner, Detective Corey Peladeau. Some of the other teams include Massachusetts State Police K-9 team at Gillette Stadium, a Massachusetts Environmental Police K-9 Team on a dock with the Boston skyline behind them, and a MBTA Transit Police K-9 going onto a T (subway train), and involved in other activities” notes Kathy Hinds, Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog President.

Hinds continued, “Your donation of $10 for a calendar truly helps make a difference to help keep our K-9s safe, who provide tremendously valuable services to keep our communities safe. Donations of any amount, as well as volunteer assistance, is welcome. Since 2000, with your generous support, MA Vest-a-Dog has provided over 485 ballistic K9 vests, including 65 SWAT K9 vests at $2400 each and over 290 K9 First Aid kits ($200 each). With our expanded mission, we’ve been able to offer more support for K9 programs, with over $369,000 in grants and community partnership fundraising for state, county and local law enforcement departments, providing cruiser kennels, cruiser over-heat-detector/alarm and door-popper systems, training equipment and bite sleeves/suits. We provided grants to help fund 3 K9 training conferences, and helped purchase ten dogs for K9 work.”

All proceeds remain in-state, solely supporting Massachusetts K9 programs. The organization is a 501(c)3 non-profit; donations are tax-deductible as allowed by the IRS.

“The K-9 vests make a difference in the safety of our K-9s. My last K-9, Blitz, was saved when a suspect managed to dislodge Blitz from a bite and thrust Blitz into unfinished attic rafters. Thrown with such force, Blitz tumbled down attic stairs. Without the vest, he could have had direct nail wounds into his lungs, and blunt trauma – possible broken ribs/punctured lungs from the tumble. The vest lessened the impact, and Blitz was able to come home following a visit to the veterinarian that night, and back to work shortly thereafter,” said Ken Ballinger, owner/operator of Alpha Canis in Weymouth, who retired at the rank of Major from the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department.

Ballinger has a puppy, fiercely owning a bite sleeve at the tender age of 10 weeks, featured in this year’s calendar, “Fury has been training and is turning into an absolutely phenomenal K-9…now at 10 months old, he’s showing he’s got what it takes!”

Also featured in the Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog 2017 calendars are K-9 teams from Danvers Police Department, MBTA Transit Police, Mendon Police Department, Massachusetts Environmental Police, Massachusetts State Police, Manchester-By-The-Sea Police Department, Southbridge Police Department, Westford Police Department and even an adorable puppy-in-training! Besides calendars, other merchandise is also available on the website: Tshirts, bandanas, winter hats, holiday ornaments, and window decals.

Donations may be sent directly to Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog, Inc, PO BOX 48 Walpole MA 02081. For more information, please call 508-668-7149 or visit their website at www.mavestadog.org