DONATION … Ausko wearing his new bullet/stab proof vest donated by Vested Interest in K9s Inc.
By: Jennifer Ellison
Police dogs are a common sight these days as valuable allies against crime. Regardless of what department they work in, be it drug sniffing or to bring down fleeing suspects, police dogs are well-trained junior agents who are often just as at risk as their two-legged partners.
It’s not uncommon for police dogs to sustain serious injury, or even death while on duty, which means that they often need their own customized armor to keep them a bit safer while on the front lines.
For local Fulton County Crime stopping Canine Ausko, that armor was generously donated by Vested Interest in K9s Inc., which is a non-profit organization focusing on providing protective gear and various assistance for law enforcement dogs.
The vest Ausko received was embroidered with “In Honor of K9 Fazzo”, another Fulton County Police dog.
This vest is sturdily made to protect against both bullets and stabbing to Ausko’s vital organs, giving him an added benefit of protection during close up encounters and altercations.
This has been Vested Interest’s motivation and passion since their founding in 2009, and they go the extra mile to make sure each customized piece fits perfectly and does its job.
Made in the USA, NIJ certified and sharper than a blade, the piece helps Vested Interest live up to its reputation as the provider of top-notch safety equipment for dogs.
To date, they’ve provided 4,301 vests and other assistance to four-legged fighters in all 50 states, totalling a whopping 6.9 million dollars, a number made possible thanks to equally generous corporate and private donations.
The vests are lightweight, enabling the dogs full range of motion as they work and each one comes with a five-year warranty in case something doesn’t work exactly like it should.
Dogs who are at least 20 months old are eligible for the program once they’re fully certified with law enforcement or any other related facility across the nation.
The program has also donated over 1800 opioid reversal NARCAN kits, three Chevy Tahoe patrol vehicles custom made for K9 units, over $76,000 in medical kits for K9s, and over $185,000 for K9 insurance premiums through their Healthcare for K9 Heroes program.
Donations from the community help to fund these amazing achievements and the program is always happy to welcome further assistance from grateful citizens looking to help their canine protectors.
All amounts are tax-deductible and a single donation of $960 will sponsor a single vest. All donations can be made to the Vested Interest organization at www.vik9s.org, or donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718.
Ausko looks pretty handsome in his vest and the people of Fulton can be sure that his chances of surviving to a well-earned and restful retirement have soared with the generous and heart-felt donation of protective armor which has saved countless police dogs before him.
Jennifer can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com