K9 Tega, a dog working with the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, will soon receive a new bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a donation from the non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.
The vest, which will carry the message “In honor of Bill Ferlise – Loved, Loyal and Served,” is expected to arrive within the next few weeks.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a charity that started in 2009.
The organization gives protective vests to police dogs across the United States.
So far, it has donated over 5,800 vests, valued at $6.9 million, to K9s in all 50 states.
These vests are made in the U.S. and meet safety standards set by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
The vests weigh between 4 and 5 pounds, come with a five-year warranty, and are designed to protect K9s working in dangerous situations.
The program is available to K9s who are at least 20 months old and actively working for law enforcement.
Tega’s handler, Deputy Josh Core, worked with Protection4Paws, a group that helps secure equipment for K9s, to get this vest.
Deputy Core said, “They’ve been a Godsend!”
He also credited Protection4Paws for helping provide other equipment for Tega, including cooling systems and protective boots.
