By Joan Lowe / The Jambar
Youngstown State University Police Department K-9 Barkley received a protective vest this month thanks to a donation to the nonprofit Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.
The vest is custom fit to Barkley and is bullet and stab-protective. The donation came in July from Canfield resident Dan Laufman for over $1,000, which covered the cost of the vest. He had the vest embroidered, “In memory of Aunt Mimi.”
YSU Police Chief Shawn Varso said the vest helps protect Barkley just like the police officers he works alongside.
“K9 Barkley is an important member of our department, and this vest ensures he has the same level of protection as our human officers,” Varso said. “We’re deeply thankful to Laufman and to Vested Interest in K9s for making this possible.”
Barkley is one of several K-9s in the area from other departments who received vests after Vested Interest in K9s reached out to them.
“Their intended purpose this year was to get protective vests for police K-9s in the area … they reached out to us to participate … and part of that was Barkley would get the protective vest when they were able to get enough money,” Varso said.
Varso said the protective vests the nonprofit provides are an item not normally covered by grants.
“The vest should last him for most of his career … they usually last up to about five years,” Varso said. “We got Barkley through a grant through the state [and] anything that he needs—food and other basic equipment—that is paid for through that grant. But this was a big-ticket item that usually it doesn’t cover.”
According to Vested Interest in K9s, the company was founded in 2009 and has provided over 6,000 protective vests nationwide, totaling nearly $7 million.
For more information about Vested Interest in K9s, the protective gear they provide and donations visit vik9s.org.