08/25/2015
Nationwide Groupon Campaign raises over $335,000 for law enforcement K9 bullet and stab protective vests
The Ralls County Sheriff's Office's K9 Jack has received a ballistic vest, thanks to a nationwide GROUPON EVENT that raised over $335,000.00. K-9 Jack is a 3 year old German Shepherd. He is trained in tracking, narcotics, and bite work. He is assigned to Deputy Shawn Leonard. Deputy Leonard has been a K-9 handler with the Ralls County Sheriff’s Department since 2014. K-9 Jack was purchased from Von Henger Kennels in Kingsville, MO. He became a member of the Ralls County Sheriff’s Office in May of 2014. K-9 Jack likes playing ball, running on Deputy Leonard’s farm, and training. K-9 Jack also enjoys getting drugs out of Ralls County!
The “Occasions ” campaign, for Groupon Grassroots, to outfit police K9’s with bullet and stab protective vests ran February 15th through March 5th, 2014. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. was the nationwide non-profit organization and charity partner selected by Groupon Grassroots to participate. The online $10-donation suggested that interested persons purchase a GROUPON, as a tax-deductible donation through their secure website, where all funds were allocated to purchase ballistic vests for our four-legged crime fighters who put their lives on the line for the community and their partners.
In 2014, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. partnered with Groupon for the ‘Occasions’ campaign and was named one of “The Best of 2014” campaigns. In less than three weeks, the non-profit raised $335,000.000, allowing them to provide to over 370 law enforcement dogs, across the nation, protective body armor in memory of K9 Rocco of the Pittsburgh, PA Police Department. Rocco sacrificed his life in the line of duty in January 2014. All vests will be embroidered with the sentiment, “In Memory of K9 Rocco, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police”.
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. 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 1,546 protective vests, in 49 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 1.4 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 19 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.
The suggested donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $1,050. Each vest has a value between $1,795 – $2,234 and a five-year warranty. There are 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.
