Hartford, CT – Hartford Hospital’s Public Safety K-9’s, including K-9’s Bishop, Athena, and Draco, received life-saving bullet and stab protective vests, thanks to generous donations from Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to providing protective gear for law enforcement K-9s.

The K-9 teams were:

• K-9 Bishop, serving with Hartford Hospital Public Safety, received a protective vest sponsored by John and Molly Shirk of Redmond, WA. The vest is embroidered with the sentiment, "This gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc."

• K-9 Athena received a vest sponsored by Lisa King of Columbia, CT. The vest will be embroidered in memory of K-9 Ewa, of Poteet ISD PD, who tragically passed on November 10, 2023.

• K-9 Draco also received a protective vest, sponsored by Lisa King of Columbia, CT, and dedicated in honor of Pat Charon, an animal lover and best friend.

Each vest is made in the U.S., custom fitted, and NIJ certified, offering vital protection to these four-legged officers who play a critical role in ensuring public safety. The expected delivery for all vests is within eight to ten weeks.

Donations to the Public Safety K-9 program allow Hartford Hospital’s Public Safety Department to fund specific needs for its four-legged partners. Currently, the department has three active K-9s employed, each working tirelessly to keep patients, visitors, and staff as safe as possible. In addition to the current K-9s, the program also honors three retired K9s who dedicated their lives to the safety of the organization.

Our K-9s and their security handlers undergo hours of specialized training to provide an additional layer of security, ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone on campus. Their work is vital to maintaining a safe environment for all.

Established in 2009, Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests, as well as other essential assistance, to law enforcement and related agency K-9s across the U.S. The organization has provided over 5,707 vests to K-9s in all 50 states, valued at $6.9 million, made possible by donations from private and corporate supporters.

The program is open to U.S. law enforcement K-9s that are at least 20 months old and actively employed. K-9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate in the program.