News release from the Fort Wayne Police Department:
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. and Groupon Provide Ultimate Protection for Fort Wayne Police Patrol K9’s
(June 8, 2015) – The Fort Wayne Police Department ten K9s have been awarded ballistic vests thanks to a nationwide GROUPON EVENT that has raised over $39,000.00.
The “Goods Pet Collection ” campaign for Groupon Grassroots to outfit police K9’s with bullet and stab protective vests ran May 11th through May 25th at 11:59pm Central Standard Time. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is the nationwide non-profit organization and charity partner selected by Groupon Grassroots to participate. The online $10 donation suggested interested persons purchase a GROUPON (a tax deductible donation) through www.groupon.com/k9 where 100% of the funds were allocated to purchase ballistic vests for the four-legged crime fighters who put their lives on the line for the community and their partner. A grant of $10,500.00 was awarded to the Fort Wayne Police Department through this event for vest recipients: K9 Coris, Tygo, Jax, Django, Ado, Kevir, Bach, Zaras, Bella and Tempo.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. will provide law enforcement dogs nationwide with the protective body armor in memory of K9 Kye of the Oklahoma City Police Department who sacrificed his life in the line of duty on August 24th, 2014. K9 Kye suffered stab wounds while pursuing and subduing a burglary suspect. He was rushed to surgery but failed to recover.
All vests will be embroidered with the sentiment, “In Memory of K9 Kye, Oklahoma City Police Department”.
In 2014, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. partnered with Groupon and was named as one of “The Best of 2014” campaigns. In just over two weeks, the nonprofit raised $335,000.00 providing ballistic vests for 370 law enforcement dogs in 49 states.
About Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.:
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA 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. Each vest costs $1050.00 and has a 5 year warranty. The nonprofit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four legged K9 Officers. Through private and corporate sponsorships, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 1400 law enforcement dogs in 49 states with protective vests since 2009 at a cost of over $1.3 million dollars.New K9 graduates as well as K9’s with expired vests are eligible to participate. The program is open to law enforcement dogs who are US employed, certified and at least 19 months of age.For more information, please call 508-824-6978. Tax deductible donations are accepted by mail at Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. PO Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718 and via the website: www.vik9s.org.
FWPD K9 officers and their K9 partners involved:
- Sgt. Robert Theurer & K9 Bella
- Officer Christopher Faherty & K9 Bach
- Officer Albert Davis & K9 Tygo
- Officer Richard Jennings & K9 Ado
- Officer John Drummer & K9 Jax
- Officer Dustin Engelman & K9 Coris
- Officer Mark Bieker & K9 Kevir
- Officer Ron Coffelt & K9 Django
- Officer Matt Harmeyer & K9 Zaras
- Officer Brad Griffin & K9 Tempo
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