St. Petersburg, FL – K-9 Chance is now equipped with a bullet and stab protective vest donated to the St. Petersburg Police Department by Vested Interest in K9s Inc.
The custom-fitted body armor includes an embroidered message identifying it as a gift of protection from the nonprofit organization.
Police shared a photograph of Chance wearing the new vest and said he was ready to report for duty.
Vested Interest in K9s was founded in 2009 to provide protective vests and other assistance to dogs serving law enforcement agencies and related organizations throughout the United States.
The nonprofit has donated more than 6,631 ballistic vests to working K-9s in all 50 states.
The organization also supports police dogs through opioid reversal kits, medical first aid supplies, insurance assistance and specialized training programs.
Its work is funded by donations, grants and fundraising events.
Protective vests are designed to cover a police dog’s torso and vital organs during potentially dangerous assignments.
K-9 teams may assist officers by searching buildings, tracking people, locating discarded evidence and responding to other public safety incidents.
The St. Petersburg Police Department’s K-9 Unit provides support to patrol officers and specialized teams.
Its dogs use their speed and sense of smell to conduct searches that could be more difficult or dangerous for officers.
Chance is not the first St. Petersburg police dog to receive donated armor from the organization.
Previous recipients have included Loki, King, Nacho, Axel, Ash, Cezar, Johnny, Bane, Stark and Darth.