K9 Holder Receives Body Armor

Rockland County Sheriff’s Office K9 Holder has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

A Bloodhound, Holder is about three years old. He is currently certified by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services in tracking and is assigned to Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew Myers, a first time handler with the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office-Police Division.

Holder was rescued from a shelter in Massachusetts in June of 2016 and was adopted by the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office later that month.

Holder excelled in his K9 school, completing 11 weeks of training at the Westchester County Police Academy, graduating on Dec. 1, 2016. He is the first police Bloodhound in the history of Rockland County.

His vest is sponsored by an anonymous donor and embroidered with the sentiment “This vest comes with love and prayers for all K9s."

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 its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 2,400 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 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 of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $1,050. Each vest has a value between $1,795 – $2,234 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs.

There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s 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.