A couple of good boys are getting protective equipment at the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office.
Police pups Csoki and Bruno will receive bullet and stab protective vests through a donation from an organization that provides such equipment to police dogs. Csoki is a two-year-old Dutch shepherd and Bruno is an eight-year-old Belgian malinois.
Within eight to 10 weeks, the nonprofit Vested Interest in K9s will provide the equipment embroidered with “The gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K9s.” The organization has provided more than 4,970 vests to dogs in all 50 states at a value of $6.9 million.
And there’s even an Arkansas-centric example of the vests saving a dog’s life.
Sergeant Erik Johnson of the Jonesboro Police Department serves on the group’s advisory board. Here’s the story of what happened to his pup Gabo in 2018, but be warned, this one might have you in your feels.
On December 11, 2018, K9 Gabo was shot 5 times during a standoff while trying to apprehend the armed suspect. 4 rounds passed through Gabo critically wounding him but the 5th and most likely the fatal round was stopped by Gabo’s ballistic vest which was donated by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. in 2015 in Memory of K9 Rocco of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
Gabo survived the incident but later passed away in 2020.
The organization is funded through private and corporate donations. The program is open to U.S. dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed with law enforcement or related agencies, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office. Each vest weights four to five pounds and has a value of $1,744-$2,283 but can be provided by the organization with a donation of $985. For more information, go to vik9s.org.