MCSO’s K-9 Chase Receives Body Armor Thanks to Charitable Donation

This is a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:

Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office K9 Chase has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Chase’s vest was sponsored by an Anonymous Donor and embroidered with the sentiment “Born to love – Trained to serve – Loyal Always”.

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 2,600 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 2.1 million dollars.

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 $1,050.00. Each vest has a value between $1,795 – $2,234 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is 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.

News of the donation prompted Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit Sergeant Joey DeMarco to proclaim, “This is great!  We go into some dangerous situations, like illegal marijuana grows, work with the SWAT team, track fleeing felons and conduct parole and probation searches.

Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Kirk Mason who oversees the Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit stated, “The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office program has been in existence for over 20 years.  During this time our canine partners have evolved from being strictly protection partners to person trackers, evidence seekers and tactical partners.  As a result we have seen a marked increase in deployments and an increased awareness of our canine partners capabilities by both sworn personnel and community members.  The donation of these vests will allow our canine partners to safely work side by side, with their handler, in day to day situations which tend to increase in both numbers and complexity.  Our handlers will now have the peace of mind in knowing that their canine partner will be deployed in all situations, knowing that their canine partner has the highest level of affordable protection currently being offered.”

Attached is a photograph of K9 Deputy Ryan Murdaugh and his partner K9 Chase wearing his body armor from Vested Interest in K9s.

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16 Comments
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Ben Round
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Ben Round
5 years ago

Alternate Headline: ‘Donor Gives Chase….’!

Claudia Myers
Guest
Claudia Myers
5 years ago

Big thanks to the anonymous donor. Chase is an amazing bloodhound!

Liz
Guest
Liz
5 years ago

I love a hound dog! Look how proud and handsome she/he looks in the new vest. The embroidered words are a nice touch.

Just maybe
Guest
Just maybe
5 years ago

Dogs are so noble. People would do well to remember their own nobility. Native Americans didn’t consider them animals, they called them Dog People.

Thebigdeal
Guest
Thebigdeal
5 years ago

Good looking blood hound. One million times better than a pit bull!

Farce
Guest
Farce
5 years ago
Reply to  Thebigdeal

For tracking? Probably! But I don’t understand your need to slight all pit bulls. They can be great dogs. Mine is sweet and a loyal protector of his humans, cats and chickens. What some idiots do with them is sad and dangerous. But please don’t flush away this entire breed!…On another note- Thanks to this anonymous donor! Dog people are the best!

Evelyn
Guest
Evelyn
5 years ago
Reply to  Farce

I concur

Pullyerheadout
Guest
Pullyerheadout
5 years ago
Reply to  Thebigdeal

What is “Thebigdeal” about pit bulls?

Did you have a bad experience with pitbulls? And now you are close minded about all pit bulls? That’s just like saying that all people are killers because one person killed somebody! Pitbull‘s are some of the most loyal dogs and they truly want to be lapdogs.

Seriously what’s THEBIGDEAL about pit bulls?

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Pullyerheadout

Experience of their owners standing by while their loose pit bulls charged. In the middle of town. And along the country road. And no other variety of dog doing so ever. And a pit bull was part of the attack that killed my favorite goat. And then the reported deaths where pit bulls have killed strangers just walking by and reports where pit bulls have killed their owners . At rates many times the rate of all other types of dogs together.

And https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305270428_Characteristics_of_1616_Consecutive_Dog_Bite_Injuries_at_a_Single_Institution.

Evelyn
Guest
Evelyn
5 years ago

I concur

Buzz
Guest
Buzz
5 years ago

Chase is OWNING that vest – what a model K9!

Erik
Guest
Erik
5 years ago

I approve. Now, where’s my vest dad?

Kym Kemp
Admin
5 years ago
Reply to  Erik

What a great expression. Plucked a smile right out of me.

K
Guest
K
5 years ago

My hound would like to thank this hound for his service. He feels safe in his bed, knowing another hound is keeping the streets safe.

Kym Kemp
Admin
5 years ago
Reply to  K

This cracked me up!

Erik
Guest
Erik
5 years ago

Me too, what a cutie. I dont know what it is about hounds, i just love em. My wife and i never set out to own hounds, they choose us, lol. That’s Benjamin in the pic i posted, we raised him from a pup, his dad is a pure bred plott hound, and his mom is probably a ridgeless ridgeback (and maybe a bit of black mouthed cur) we rescued from the side of 299 on Oregon summet, no one ever claimed her so we of course gave her a home. We live pretty deep in the woods off grid outside of Weaverville, most of our neighbors are older and are done being dog owners so they love the protection the hounds (mom and son) give their veggie gardens and orchards. Fearless with bears, gentle with grandkids, can’t beat em. We took our time and found good homes for the rest of pups, a couple of the brindled boys even went to families in Eureka and Willow Creek. Here is a pic of Naya, the mom.