K9 Zaki with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office will soon be equipped with a bullet and stab protective vest.

According to the sheriff’s office, the vest is courtesy of the non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. and will be embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of K9 Rocco, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.

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 graduate, 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.

Zaki is a 2-year-old police K-9 that is trained in police patrol and protection in addition to narcotics detection. Deputy Chris Mueller is the K-9 Officer and Zaki became partners in November 2016. Both Zaki and Deputy Mueller have gone through extensive K-9 training.

“I want to thank Vested Interest in K9s for selecting Zaki to receive a protective vest. I also want to continue thanking our great citizens and businesses that have made our K-9 program even possible. Just as my ballistic vest protects me, this vest will help protect K-9 Zaki,” Deputy Mueller said.