Sheriff's Office K-9 to receive body armor

The Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office recently announced that K-9 Sergeant Apollo will soon receive a bullet- and stab-protective vest, thanks to a charitable donation from Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

K-9 Sgt. Apollo, a two-year-old Belgian Malinois from the Netherlands, is trained in obedience, narcotics detection, tracking, article search, area search, building search, apprehension, and handler protection. His handler and partner is Deputy Sheriff Dakota Carlsen.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing bullet- and stab-protective vests and other assistance to law enforcement and related agencies across the United States. Since its inception, the organization has donated over 5,882 protective vests to K-9s in all 50 states. These vests, valued at $6.9 million, are funded solely through private and corporate donations.

The body armor Apollo will receive is made in the United States, custom-fitted, and certified to meet National Institute of Justice ballistic and protective standards. Each vest is valued at $1,800, weighs an average of four to five pounds, and includes a five-year warranty.

Gwen and Gary Walter of Dexter, Michigan, are sponsoring Apollo's vest, which will be embroidered with the sentiment "Gifted by Gwen and Gary Walter." The sheriff's office expects delivery within the next 10 weeks.

Vested Interest in K9s accepts tax-deductible donations of any amount. A single donation of $1,050 fully sponsors a protective vest. For more information, volunteer opportunities, or to donate, call Vested Interest in K9s at 508-824-6978, visit http://www.vik9s.org, or mail contributions to PO Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718.