Shelton P

SHELTON, Conn. — The Shelton Police Department’s K9 officer Stryker will be safer on the job after receiving a gift of a bullet and stab protective vest, thanks to a charitable donation from nonprofit organization, Vested Interest in K9s.

Tom Renner

01/26/2017 5:16 p.m.

Stryker’s vest is sponsored by Margie Mills of Shelton and embroidered with the sentiment “In loving memory of Therapy Dog Sandy.”

Mills made the donation to pay tribute to Sandy, whom she adopted from the Shelton Animal Shelton in 2002. Sandy became a therapy dog in 2003 and was active in the Shelton Community, participating in the high school play “Annie” and in the “Youth Connection” and spent a lot of time at Griffin Hospital and Wesley Village.

Mills and Sandy also marched in the Memorial Day Parade to pay tribute to war dogs.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, Mass., 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 nonprofit 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 2,100 protective vests, in 50 states. All vests are custom made in the USA by Armor Express in Central Lake, Mich. 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.

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