Four lightweight armoured protection vests for police service dogs

THE Abbotsford Police Foundation (APF) announced on Tuesday it has funded a new Abbotsford Police Department initiative in support of their K9 handlers and their partners who work on the Lower Mainland District Integrated Police Dog Service Unit (LMD IPDS). The Foundation is funding four lightweight armoured protection vests for the four police dogs that serve with Abbotsford Police.

The ‘K9 Street Fighter vest’ is used by law enforcement and Special Forces K9 teams globally. The vests cost approximately $1,700 each; so the total grant is $6,800.
Abbotsford Police Foundation President Kevin Boonstra said: “We are pleased to announce funding for this important equipment. And on behalf of our board of directors we’d like to acknowledge and thank the Abbotsford Community Foundation and the Mary Victoria Wakefield Animal Welfare Fund for their generous grant of $3,000 that will go toward the purchase of the K9 Kevlar vests.”
Abbotsford Police Chief Constable Mike Serr noted: “Police Dog Teams are highly valuable assets to policing. There are countless examples of police service dogs that have saved lives, located missing kids and tracked to apprehend violent criminals evading arrest. These vests help ensure our four-legged members remain active and healthy during their service life.”
He added: “While it is impossible to put a value on the dog and how it helps keep the City safe, the estimated cost to breed, purchase, train and maintain a validated police dog can be upward of $80,000 per dog. On behalf of the entire Department and in particular the LMD IPDS I’d like to thank the Abbotsford Police Foundation, the Abbotsford Community Foundation and the Mary Victoria Wakefield Animal Welfare Fund for their generous support.”
Active dogs serving with Abbotsford Police handlers: PSD Jero # 1091 and PSD Karma # 1093.
Retired dogs: RPSD Deuce #913, RPSD Koda #905 and RPSD Duke #925.
For more on the Abbotsford Police Foundation, visit www.abbypf.ca