A nonprofit organization has donated a protective vest to Darien Police Department for Argo, one of the department’s two police dogs.
Photo from Darien Police Department
Darien Police Department K-9 Argo
The vest, donated by an anonymous sponsor through the nonprofit Vested Interest in K9s Inc., can help protect Argo from bullet or stab wounds.
The charity, headquartered in East Taunton, MA, was set up to provide protective vests for police dogs in law enforcement and similar agencies across the United States.
Since it was started in 2009, the organization has provided over 3,000 protective vests in 50 states, through private and corporate donations. The vests are valued at a total of $5.7 million.
The program is open to dogs actively working with U.S. law enforcement or related agencies. The doga must also be certified and at least 20 months old. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible.
A donor can get a vest for a qualified K-9 for a $950 donation, although the total value of the protective vests are between $1,744 and $2,283. They come with a five-year warranty and an average weight of 4 to 5 lbs.
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 the organization’s website or through the mail at P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.
K-9 Argo and his handler, Officer Amanda Hinkley, are currently assigned to the Patrol Division. The K-9 team is certified in narcotics detection and tracking. Argo is one of an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K-9s throughout the country.