Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Tango will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from nonprofit organization Vested Interest in K9s Inc., according to Chief Criminal Deputy Steve Shumate.

K-9 Tango’s vest, sponsored by an anonymous donor, will be embroidered with the sentiment “Born to Love — Trained to Serve — Loyal Always.”

Tango’s handler, Deputy Justin Rivas, has been working diligently to obtain this added protection for Tango. The other K-9 team for the sheriff’s office, Deputy Tracy Gay and K-9 Max, already has a bullet and stab protective vest.

Vested Interest in K9s is a 501(c)3 charity based in East Taunton, Massachusetts. Its 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 K-9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s provided over 2,700 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over $2.3 million.

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 K-9 graduates, as well as K-9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K-9 is $950. Each vest has a value between $1,744 and $2,283 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4 to 5 pounds.

There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K-9s throughout the United States.

For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, 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.