LAKE COUNTY, IL — Lake County Sheriff’s Office’s four K9s will soon be outfitted with “potentially life-saving” bullet and stab protective vests, thanks to a charitable donation.

Nonprofit “Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.” has donated the vests to K9s Ryker, Danno, Dax and Duke, said Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli, public information officer with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

The vests, which should arrive in 8 to 10 weeks, are made in the United States, custom-fitted and certified by the National Institute of Justice, Covelli said. They are embroidered with the statement “Honoring ‘Blue Paws Strong.'”

“Our canines are an incredible asset to Lake County,” Sheriff John D. Idleburg said. “We want to ensure our four-legged deputies have all the protection possible and we are very grateful to Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. for helping make this possible.”

The nonprofit’s mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies nationwide, Covelli said, and since its inception in 2009 it has provided over 4,450 vests to K9s in all 50 states.

All K9s in the United States who are at least 20 months old, actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies are eligible to participate, officials said. K9s with expired vests are eligible to receive new ones as well.

Each vest has a value of $1,744-$2,283, weighs an average of 4 to 5 pounds, and comes with a five-year warranty, officials said.

Vested Interest in K9s funds its vests through private and corporate donations, officials said. The nonprofit accepts donations in any amount, and a $960 donation will sponsor one vest.

Anyone interested in donating can donate here or by mailing a contribution to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718, and anyone interested in volunteering can call (508) 824-6978.

Source: https://patch.com/illinois/deerfield/lake-county-k9s-receive-potentially-life-saving-vest-donation