Fayetteville police dog to receive special vest

FAYETTEVILLE — A police dog will get a protective vest, thanks to a donation from a nonprofit organization, according to a Fayetteville Police Department news release Tuesday.

“These vests are important for the safety of our K-9s,” police spokesman Sgt. Craig Stout wrote in an email. “If they are going into an area that might have an armed suspect, we want to do what we can to protect our dogs.”

Vested Interest in K9s Inc. plans to donate a $1,050, bullet-and-stab protective vest for Owen, a German shepherd, police said. It should arrive within 10 weeks.

The Police Department has two dogs and plans to try to get more vests, Stout said.

Vested Interest in East Taunton, Mass., has a mission to provide vests and assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies nationwide, according to the news release. The program is open to dogs employed at law enforcement or related agencies, certified and at least 20 months old.

The organization has provided more than 1,800 protective vests in 49 states through private and corporate donations, according to the release. There are about 30,000 law enforcement dogs nationwide, according to the release.

Owen’s vest is sponsored by the not-for-profit Staten Island Companion Dog Training Club. The vest will be embroidered with “Donated by SICDTC, Staten Island, NY,” according to the news release.

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