Officials with the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office say their K-9, Iron, will receive a bullet and stab protective vest.

They say the donation comes from non-profit organization, ‘Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.’

APSO says Iron’s vest is sponsored by Diane Weidler of Holbrook, NY and will be embroidered with the sentiment “Born to Love-Trained to Serve-Loyal Always”.

His vest should come in within eight to ten weeks.

According to Sheriff’s officials, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a non-profit in 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.

The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers.

Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 3,500 U.S. made, custom fitted, NIJ certified protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a value of $6.9 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. 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 through this link, or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.