Huntersville Teen Raises Money For Police K-9 Bulletproof Vest

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — One of Huntersville Police Department’s very own needs a bulletproof vest and a Lake Norman Charter student has raised the money to buy it.

Nicholas Lay, a 10th grader at the Huntersville school, organized a fundraiser through the Leadership Requirement Program for the $800 needed to buy the gear for Cirro, a police dog who’s a member of HPD’s K9 team.

Cirro has been a part of HPD since April 2017 and is the only dog out of the five-dog team that does not have a vest, Officer Odette Saglimbeni told Patch. While dogs do not wear the vests during regular shifts, it’s important for them to have them for safety reasons, such as for use in hostage situations, she said.

Lay collected donations Feb. 23 at the Huntersville Recreation Center, located at 11836 Verhoeff Drive in Huntersville. Also, donations may be sent to the Town of Huntersville or the Huntersville Police Department.

It didn't take long for him to reach his goal, according to HPD.

"Goal reached!" HPD said on social media Saturday. "Any money over the goal will be placed into fund for future K9s."

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