Graham County Sheriff’s Office K9 Kukui to receive donated body armor

Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: Graham County Sheriff’s Office K9 Kukui will be protected by body armor thanks to a donation by Helen Pavilonis, of Durham, North Carolina and the nonprofit organization, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

Contributed Article/Courtesy GCSO

GRAHAM COUNTY – Graham County Sheriff’s Office K9 Kukui will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from nonprofit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Kukui’s vest is sponsored by Helen Pavilonis, of Durham, North Carolina, and will be embroidered with the sentiment “In honor of Marie Pavilonis”. Delivery is expected within eight to 10 weeks.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) 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. The nonprofit 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 more than 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.

Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: GCSO K9 Kukui

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 are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, 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.