SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT ACCEPTS DONATION OF PROTECTIVE VESTS FOR TWO POLICE DOGS
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 — Two protective vests were donated Wednesday to Cook County Sheriff’s Police canines by a not-for-profit group dedicated to the safety of animals, the Office of Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today.
In a ceremony at the Sheriff’s Police Canine Training Center in Bremen Township, Illinois Vest-A-Dog delivered vests to two Sheriff’s Police canines: Ridges and his partner, Officer Kevin O’Donnell and Zeus and his partner, Officer John Thedos.
“We truly appreciate all of the great work done by Illinois Vest-A-Dog to coordinate these donations,” Dart said. “We’re especially grateful for the generous donors who made this possible.”
Illinois Vest-A-Dog is a not-for-profit group that has been raising money since 2003 to purchase bullet- and stab-proof vests for police dogs across the state.
At Wednesday’s ceremony, the group also provided protective vests to canines serving in the Northbrook, Markham, LaGrange, Park Forest and Lemont police departments. All of the dogs have been trained at the Cook County Police Canine Training Center.
Wednesday’s donation means 11 dogs in the Sheriff’s K-9 Unit are now fitted with protective vests, which cost about $825 each.