APD K9 Officers Receive Protective Vests

Credit: Atlanta Police Department

Five of Atlanta’s furriest officers will have an extra layer of protection the next time they go out on patrol, thanks to a generous donation by a nonprofit and a pair of businesses.

Each Atlanta Police Department K9 officer has been given a set of body armor, meant to protect them from bullets and stabbing weapons. The gifts to APD are a part of flea and tick preventative PetArmor’s efforts with Walmart and the nonprofit Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. to outfit 25 law enforcement dogs in Georgia, Florida, and Missouri with the protective vests.

Since 2013, PetArmor and Vested Interest have provided protective vests to K9 officers in Florida, Texas, Maryland, Nevada, Michigan, and Tennessee. Each vest costs $1,050, making it too expensive for many departments to purchase on their own.

“Our K-9 officers are as beloved and valued as our human officers,” said Atlanta Police Department Chief George Turner in a statement. “We are thrilled that PetArmor is helping to protect five of our K-9s. This donation will now allow us to provide our K-9s with a higher level of protection.”