MENDON — Police officers regularly get bulletproof vests once they join a department. When a K-9 joins, they do not receive a vest immediately due to their costs. A bulletproof vest for K-9s can cost around $3,500.
Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog, based in Mendon, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has worked for almost 25 years to get as many dog vests as possible. Next year will be its 25th anniversary.
Kathy Hinds founded the organization in 2000 after an Ohio police dog was shot and killed in the line of duty. She founded the organization because she did not want that to happen to other police dogs. The organization raises money for department dogs in Massachusetts.
"Back then, and even now, there isn't a lot of financial support for dogs and bulletproof vests," Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog President David Shilale said. "That's kind of how it started and then over the last 25 years, it's really grown."
Every year the organization makes a calendar featuring dogs from departments across the state. For the 25th anniversary, the calendar's cover will feature 25 K-9 teams from departments across the state. The teams include town, city, state, environmental and corrections law enforcement K-9 teams.
"We have so much more than just the bulletproof vests. Obviously, that is our core mission but we provide all kinds of essential equipment for K-9 teams," Schilale said. "We will provide finance training for teams and a whole bunch of other needs for the teams to be successful and safe."
Shilale reached out to Hinds about 10 years ago expressing interest in the organization. He started as a volunteer photographer for the organization.
The organization is made up of only volunteers. Shilale said for him, it's his love and admiration for dogs, especially police dogs, that encourage him to continue this work.
The vests K-9s wear on their fronts and sides to cover all vital organs are similar to human bulletproof vests, Shilale added. Another type of vest for K-9s is the SWAT vest, which has less coverage but provides more maneuverability.
The SWAT vests are more expensive but allow for SWAT teams to "repel" with their dogs, Shilale said.
Vest-a-Dog regularly holds fundraisers. The most successful is the calendar sales. As for the 25th anniversary, Shilale said the organization has a handful of events it is still planning.
Since the entire organization comprises volunteers, Shilale urged more people to join. He said he continues this work because of his love for dogs.
"Unfortunately, dogs don't get the protection like their human handlers do, and the dogs are in dangerous situations," Shilale said. "They're the ones to go into dangerous situations first."
All fundraising options, as well as instructions on how to request equipment, are on the organization's website at https://mavestadog.org/vests/ .
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog shoots 2025 calendar and gears up for 25th anniversary
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