FARMINGTON — The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department police dogs, Diesel, Abbie and Justice, will receive protective vests thanks to a nationwide Groupon event that raised more than $335,000, according to a statement from Lt. David Rackliffe.
The Occasions campaign for Groupon Grassroots to outfit police dogs with the vests ran Feb. 15 through March 5. Vested Interest in K9s Inc. was the nationwide, nonprofit organization and charity partner selected by Groupon Grassroots to participate.
Vested Interest in K9s Inc. will provide more than 350 law enforcement dogs nationwide with the body armor to protect them from bullet and stab wounds.
All vests will be embroidered with, “In Memory of K9 Rocco, Pittsburgh Police Department,” who died in the line of duty in January, according to the statement.
Vested Interest in K9s Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, is still accepting donations through its website, www.vik9s.org, and via mail to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718.
In 2013, Vested Interest in K9s Inc. partnered with Groupon and was named as one of “The Best of 2013” campaigns. The nonprofit raised $155,537.33 in one week, which provided vests for 163 law enforcement dogs in 30 states. There are an estimated 30,000 police dogs throughout the United States, according to the statement.
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