Camden, Tenn.–Benton County Sheriff’s Office K9 Zorro will receive a bullet and stab protective vest, thanks to a charitable donation from the non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.
Zorro’s vest is sponsored by an Anonymous Sponsor and will be embroidered with the sentiment “Honoring those who served and sacrificed”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.
Zorro’s handler is Benton County Deputy Shawn Gary.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. charity located in East Taunton, Massachusetts, whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. Since its inception in 2009, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 2,700 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 2.3 million dollars.
The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.
The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $950.00. Each vest has a value between $1,744 – $2,283 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.
Photo: Deputy Shaun Gary and Zorro. (Benton Co. SO photo).
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