K9 Amira at University of Montana to receive protective vest

MISSOULA, Mont. — The University of Montana Police Department's (UMPD) K9 Amira will soon be outfitted with a bullet and stab protective vest, the department announced.

The vest is a donation from Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting law enforcement dogs across the country.

The protective vest for K9 Amira is sponsored by Bill Karpuk from Plating Specialties in Madison Heights, Michigan.

The vest will feature the embroidery “Gifted by Plating Specialties- Madison Heights, MI” and is expected to arrive within ten weeks, UMPD said.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, has provided over 6,348 vests valued at $6.9 million to K9s in all 50 states.

The organization offers U.S.-made, custom-fitted, National Institute of Justice-certified body armor for these four-legged officers.

The program is available to K9s who are at least 20 months old, actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible for new gear, UMPD added.