NJ Foundation Sends Bulletproof Vest to NC Police Dog

A four-legged officer in Burgaw, North Carolina is about to get a crucial layer of protection that could save his life on duty.

K-9 Omen, who serves with the Burgaw Police Department, will receive a custom bulletproof vest thanks to a donation from the Steinberg Family Foundation in Paramus, New Jersey. The protective gear shields against both bullets and stab wounds, two of the most serious threats police dogs face in the line of duty.

Barbara Steinberg and her family sponsored the vest through Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc., a charity dedicated to protecting law enforcement dogs across America. The vest will arrive embroidered with "Gifted by the Steinberg Family Foundation" within 10 weeks.

Founded in 2009, Vested Interest in K-9s has been filling a critical gap in police department budgets. Many agencies simply can't afford protective gear for their canine officers, even though these dogs face the same dangers as their human partners.

The Ripple Effect

This single donation represents something much bigger than one dog's safety. Since its founding, Vested Interest in K-9s has equipped thousands of police dogs nationwide with protective vests, creating a network of safer four-legged officers across America.

The program welcomes applications from any law enforcement dog in the United States who is at least 20 months old, actively working, and certified. Dogs whose vests have expired can also apply, ensuring veteran K-9 officers stay protected throughout their careers.

The charity operates entirely on donations from individuals and foundations like the Steinbergs, proving that caring communities can solve problems that stretched budgets sometimes can't. Every vest donated means one more police dog goes home safely to their handler at the end of each shift.

When K-9 Omen straps on his new vest for the first time, he'll carry the goodwill of strangers hundreds of miles away who simply wanted to help.