Local Donations Fund Connecticut State Police K9 Body Armor

The Connecticut State Police have announced that thanks to recent sponsorships and generous donations from a couple of local non-profit organizations, one based out of Bethlehem, two Connecticut State Police K9's have been outfitted with new doggy body armor to help protect them while they're on the job.

According to a couple of social media posts from The Connecticut State Police, K9 Brocko has received a bullet and stab-proof vest thanks to a sponsorship from the Bethlehem, CT based Mazaika Family Foundation, and a donation from Vested Interest in K9's. Brocko's special vest was embroidered with the saying "Born to Love - Trained to Serve - Loyal Always".

In a separate announcement, the CT State Police also announced that another K9, Ember, has also received a body armor vest.

Ember's vest was also a result of a donation from Vested Interest in K9's, Inc. which is a charity that has been in operation since 2009, and their mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests to dogs of law enforcement and other related agencies around the US.

According to the post, this body armor is made in the USA and is custom fitted. Since 2009, Vested Interest has donated almost 4,200 vests to dogs in all 50 states at a value of almost 7 million dollars. Ember's vest is on the way in a couple of months and it will have the same embroidered saying as Brocko's.

There is an estimated 30,000 K9s in law enforcement across the USA. Each vest that Vested Interest has donated has a value of $1,700 - $2,200. Donations are tax-deductible and a donation of around $960 will sponsor a vest. You can learn more about the program, and make a donation, by clicking HERE