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Wood County Sheriff’s Office K9 to receive protective vest

Photo Provided Ogi, a law enforcement dog of the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, will receive body armor through Vested Interest in K9s Inc. and an anonymous sponsor. The dog was sworn in as a deputy sheriff in the department in May.

PARKERSBURG — A law enforcement dog with the Wood County Sheriff’s Office will receive a new bullet and stab protective vest through an anonymous sponsor and a donation from a non-profit group.

Ogi, a German shepherd, will receive the body armor through the charitable donation from Vested Interest in K9s Inc. The vest was anonymously sponsored and will be embroidered with “This gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K9s Inc.,” the sheriff’s department said. Delivery is expected within eight to 10 weeks.

Vested Interest is located in East Taunton, Mass. Its mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States.

The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with the potentially lifesaving body armor for dogs. Since its inception, Vested Interest provided more than 2,600 protective vests in 50 states through private and corporate donations at a cost of more than $2.1 million.

The program is open to dogs with U.S. law enforcement or related agencies that are certified and at least 20 months of age. New dogs and dogs with expired vests are eligible.

The donation to provide a protective vest for a law enforcement dog is $950. Each vest has a value between $1,744 and $2,283 and has a five-year warranty. About 30,000 dogs are used by law enforcement agencies in the United States.

Ogi was brought to the U.S. from Germany and met his handler, Deputy Tyler Marlow, in May. It was sworn in as a deputy sheriff on May 8.

Marlow and Ogi finalized their training at Pine Grove Kennels.

Ogi and Marlow became Nationally Certified by the National Association of Professional Canine Handlers in the disciplines of patrol tactics and narcotics. They are further trained for tracking, searching and criminal apprehension.

For more information call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s provides information, lists events and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.

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