Abstract

Police dogs are important for community safety and have saved the lives of many people. Unfortunately many police departments do not have the resources to purchase K-9 vests that can save the lives of police dogs. Two non-profit organizations raise funds that, with the help of numerous schools and community groups, have provided vests to police departments all throughout the United States and Canada.

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Issue

When police dogs are killed in the line of duty, the result is not only the loss of valuable police resources, but also great stress and hardship for their police handlers and the communities that have come to rely on the dogs for protection. Finding funding to purchase K-9 vests can be problematic for many police departments.

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Action

Several not-for-profit organizations throughout the country have been founded with the intent to provide police dogs bulletproof and stab resistant vests. These vests generally cost between $500 to $700 each.

Numerous schools, clubs and individuals have joined the campaign to save the lives of police dogs by organizing programs in their community to purchase these expensive vests. Free information packets are available from the VEST-A-DOG website for those interested in beginning a program where they live.

Fundraising usually begins by placing donation cans at local veterinarian offices and pet stores. Other fundraising activities have included bake sales, walkathons, festival booths and penny drives. As funds grow and vests are donated to law enforcement agencies, local and national media attention helps spread the word and further the cause.

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Context

Police dogs are an important part of crime prevention. They are often sent in ahead of their human counterparts to apprehend suspects or investigate dangerous situations. They are also used for crowd control, drug and bomb detection, and can help locate missing persons.

Unofficial estimates figure that a dozen police dogs are killed every year. Only dogs with suitable temperaments and physical capabilities are appropriate for police work. Among them, only select canines will successfully complete the many hours of training required before they are ready to work in the line of duty. When the additional investment of feeding and health care are considered, it is easy to see how the loss of a single dog can be a significant financial — as well as emotional — burden for a police department.

Vest-A-Dog was founded in 1999 by then 11-year-old Stephanie Taylor of San Diego, California, after she read a news article about police dogs killed in the line of duty. She started the project by making donation boxes and distributing them to veterinary offices and pet supply stores. After distributing boxes and donation flyers, she then contacted the newspaper to tell them about her program. The responses to her efforts surprised everyone and within three weeks Stephanie not only received enough money to purchase a $475 vest for one dog, but enough funds had been raised to buy another five vests to supply all of the Oceanside Police Department dogs.

There are Vest-A-Dog (or similar) organizations in Arizona, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Texas.

Pennies to Protect Police Dogs was founded in 2000 by then 10-year-old Stacey Hillman of Casselberry, Florida, who also learned about the death of police dogs from a news article. The organization receives requests from law enforcement agencies, specifying how many police dogs they have. With community donations, vests are bought and sent directly to the police departments.

Ms. Hillman frequently travels the country raising funds and awareness for police dogs. She has received considerable recognition on behalf of Pennies to Protect Police Dogs, including the 2001 Florida Governor's Point of Light Award, and induction as a Lifetime Honorary Member into the Fraternal Order of Police in 2003.

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Outcome

Vest-A-Dog, Inc. has provided over 1000 K-9 vests to police dogs throughout the United States and Canada, since its inception.

As of June 2004, Pennies to Protect Police Dogs had raised $255,000 to provide 340 vests to 118 law enforcement agencies in 21 U.S. states.Both organizations have received attention from national television shows (CNN Headline News, Animal Planet, America's Most Wanted, CBS Early Show, Extra) and publications (Woman's World, Readers Digest, Teen People, YM, Dog Fancy, Scholastic, American Girl).

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Related Practices

• Preventing crime with ten principles of community policing
• Mobilizing a community with a Neighborhood Watch program
• Fostering police and community relationships

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Related sites

North American Police Work Dog Association

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