A non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to provide bullet/stab-proof vest for police dogs throughout Massachusetts.

Donations: MA Vest-a-Dog, c/o Barnstable Police Assn, 1200 Phinneys LN, Hyannis, MA 02601
Additional Information: Kathy Hinds, 262 Moosehill RD, E Walpole MA 02032 508-668-7149

For every K-9 risking his life, day in and day out...
and for the peace of mind for the officer by his side.

Thanks so much… we’ve reached our goal to vest all MA police dogs…and we will continue to maintain our bank account to facilitate providing vests for new K9 graduates. If you know of a new MA police dog that needs a vest, please let us know!

With generous donations from individuals, organizations and businesses - and lots of volunteer hours - we've helped vest 180 Massachusetts police dogs, in local police departments, sheriff departments, MA State Police, MA Dept of Corrections, MBTA (MA Bay Transportation Authority), MA Environmental Police, MA Dept of Mental Retardation, USAF- Hanscom AFB, and USCG - Gloucester.

The bullet/stab-protective vests we provide cost $650 or $722 (two different vendors) – we allow the handler or department choose which vest best suits their situation. Need fund-raising ideas? Please contact Kathy Hinds (see below).
 

MA Vest-a-Dog is comprised of a small group of dedicated volunteers – with help all across the state….Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, school groups, women’s groups, animal welfare groups, pet-related businesses, veterinarians…dogs have even been vested by “donations in honor of” First Communion, Bat Mitzvah, Birthdays, etc! Along the way, we have had the privilege and honor to meet many police dogs and their tremendously dedicated handlers – and seen many of these K9 teams demonstrate their talents of narcotics / firearms detection, apprehension, obedience, etc.
 

The wonderful people – and many of their pets - we have met along the way have enriched our lives in ways we could never have foreseen. We are grateful to all!
 

 K9 Vesting Program Links

• Vest-A-Dog (national program, Stephanie Taylor - Founder) http://www.vestadog.com/

• Protect Police K-9  (Arizona program, Michael Valdez - Founder) http://www.protectpolicek-9.com/

• Pennies to Protect Police Dogs (FL +, Stacey Hillman –President http://www.penniestoprotectpolicedogs.org/en-us/

• CT Vest-a-Dog (Christina Poryanda, Executive Director) http://www.ctvestadog.org/index.html

• KY Heroes on Paws Project (Founders - Stephanie Garcia & her 4-H Dog Club of Louisville, KY)  http://www.heroesonpaws.org/pages/1/index.htm

• ME Vest-a-Dog (Kelly Davis – Founder) http://mainevestadog.homestead.com/

• NH Working Dog Foundation (Doug Piroso, Chair) http://workingdog.org/k9vest.html

• RI Vest-a-Dog (Denise Anthony – Founder) http://www.rivestadog.org/index.html

• TX GSD Club of Houston – Vest Project  http://www.gsdcofhouston.org/TheVestProject.html

 A few favorite K9 Links

• K9 Memorial Site (Lulu Krause)  http://members.dandy.net/~lulu//k9data.html

• National War Dog Memorial http://www.wardogsmemorial.org/

• United States Police K9 Association     http://uspcak9.com/html/home.shtml

• North American Police Work Dog Association  http://www.napwda.com/

• US War Dogs   http://www.uswardogs.org/

• The Working Dog Program – German Shepherd Rescue of New England  http://www.gsrne.org/WDP.htm

• The Bobbie Project (helping with MA K9 vet bills.  Goal:  Vet ins for all MA K9s)
http://www.thebobbieproject.org/index.html

 Many thanks!

Much gratitude and appreciation are extended to the following dedicated volunteers who have put countless hours and boundless enthusiasm into MA VAD: Dr. Drew Brodsky, Helen Georgerian, The Hinds Family – especially Lisa, Sandy Marcel, Susan St. Marie, Lisa & Mike Quinn / Boston Beef in Norwood, Sgt. Edward Smith, ret. (Barnstable Police Association), Gil Bechtel, and Maureen, Laura, Kayla, Emily, Daniel…

The following thanks are for extraordinary gifts: Dr. Joan Zofnass and The Emily Zofnass Fund at the Boston Foundation, PETCO of Taunton, MA, The Animal Rescue League of Boston, Hanover DogFest 2001/2002 (Bob White - B&B Dogs Professional Dog Training / Hanson, Mike Kelly - K9 Communication, Inc. Training and Development Center / Norwell, and Mike O’Neil - Complete K-9 / Plympton, The MSPCA - Law Enforcement Division, Pedigree ® Dog Food, America’s Food Basket of Dorchester / Upham’s Corner, Especially for Pets, Inc, Jessie Samieri, of Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, and The Dunn Middle School 6th Grade D.A.R.E. class of 2001-2002!

Special thanks to MA State Police Sgt. Robert McCarthy and his partner, K9 Thor – for taking the time, at the very beginning of MA VAD, to help us understand what the responsibility a K9 is all about – and all the love, respect, and support these wonderful K9s deserve.

In memoriam of K-9 CERO, killed in the line of duty on March 25, 2000. Devoted partner of Deputy William R. Niemi - Ashtabula County Sheriff's Office - Jefferson, Ohio. Cero’s heart-breaking story was the inspiration to go forward and create a state-wide K9 vesting program in Massachusetts. Learn more about K9 Cero at http://members.dandy.net/~lulu//memorial2.html

Thanks to Cathy Bechtel of Mouse Magic Web Design and Hosting

Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog
A non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to provide bullet/stab-proof vest for police dogs throughout Massachusetts.

 Donations:

 MA Vest-a-Dog, c/o Barnstable Police Assn.

1200 Phinneys LN

 Hyannis, MA 02601

 

Additional Information

Kathy Hinds

262 Moosehill RD

E Walpole MA 02032

508-668-7149

Mouse Magic Web Design and Hosting