MAYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT
15 Park Avenue Maywood, NJ 07607
MAYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT'S K9 ZOEY TO GET BODY ARMOR
Maywood Police Department’s K9 Zoey will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Zoey’s vest is sponsored by an Anonymous Donor and will be embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.
K-9 Zoey is a 6-year-old female Bloodhound, w...ho is handled by K-9 Officer Chris Nichols. As a result of her extraordinary ability to scent discriminate, her sole purpose is to trail human scent. She is used in some of the most sensitive cases involving missing children, disabled persons and criminal investigations. She has been a part of missing person units and child abduction response teams. K-9 Zoey is the first and only bloodhound in the history of Bergen County law enforcement. She and Nichols hold certifications on both the state and national level. “The Maywood Police Department K-9 Unit is extremely grateful for this donation from Vested Interest in K9s. The vest will ensure the utmost safety for Zoey during the most dangerous of searches,” said Nichols.
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. 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. provided over 2,300 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 1.9 million dollars. All vests are custom made in the USA by Armor Express in Central Lake, MI.
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 $1,050.00. Each vest has a value between $1,795 – $2,234 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 at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.