JACKSON – Thanks to a charitable donation through a non-profit organization, Northampton County Sheriff’s Office K9 “Blitz” will receive a bullet and stab protective vest.

Patrick Jacobs, Captain of the Criminal Investigations Division of the Northampton Sheriff’s Office, said the vest for “Blitz” is sponsored by Lu Ann Bellantoni of Cos Cob, CT and will be embroidered with the sentiment “Gifted by Greenwich, CT Parks & Rec. Admin. Staff.”

Jacobs said 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 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 $950. Each vest has a value between $1,744 – $2,283 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 pounds.

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.

Northampton County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Blitz is partnered up with Deputy Timothy Worrell on daily patrol. Blitz is a full patrol dog, trained in bomb detection tracking and criminal apprehension. Deputy Worrell previously attended K-9 training at American K-9 Interdiction in Carsville, Virginia with training completion on June 1 of this year.