Police acquire vests for K9s; vet discusses dog's heat regulation in summer with vests

SOUTH BEND — A pair of bullet- and stab-protective vests are coming to the South Bend Police Department to further protect two of the department's four-legged officers, Teddy and Troy.

Out of the South Bend Police Department’s five K9s, Teddy, a German Shepherd who has been with the department for several years, and Troy, the department’s newest dog, a Belgian Malinois, will be the first to receive the vests. More applications are set in motion for the remaining K9s. 

“Any tool we can acquire to better protect our officers, whether they be four-legged or two-legged, is going to be a move in the right direction,” the department’s media liaison, Ashley O’Chap, told The Tribune. 

She said the opportunity to obtain the vests came to the department after funds for Troy were donated to the department. Someone involved in the donation knew someone at the vest manufacturer non-profit, Vested Interest, O’Chap said, and inquired about the SBPD looking into vests for their K9s. 

When the vests arrive, the department’s K9 unit will include them into their training, O’Chap said, and determine under which circumstances to use the vests.  

“There’s different studies about vests and their effectiveness,” she said. “Some camps in the K9 world don’t want to use them because they think the risk is greater for a dog to overheat. Others might say, ‘We live in a winter climate, wouldn’t it be a better idea to keep the dog protected in the moments that you need to be protected?’” 

Sandy Marcel, ​​founder and president of Vested Interest, said vests don’t impact the areas where dogs sweat. 

“Dogs sweat through their tongue and paw pads,” Marcel said. “We’ve never heard of any dog overheating from vests. We’re not aware of any dog overheating from any vest,” she emphasized, “not just our vests, but any vests.” 

Veterinarian Dr. Cathy Harris, the owner of Tender Care Veterinary Clinic in South Bend, discussed a dog’s ability to regulate its own body heat, especially nearing the summer months. She confirmed that dogs do regulate their body heat by panting and sweating through their feet.

Regarding dogs wearing vests in hot weather, she said, it's similar to a human wearing a lot of clothes in hot temperatures.

"If you put too much clothes on, it keeps the heat in," she said. The vests will cover the dog's torso, possibly keeping heat in that area of their body, she explained.

'Five times stronger than steel'

The custom-made VIK9 vests are made from Dyneema and are designed to cover the dogs’ vital organs, Marcel said, calling the previously used Kevlar “old school.” Dyneema markets their product as a fabric that’s “five times stronger than steel, yet light enough to float on water.” The vests include a breathable Dri-lex mesh liner for comfort.

The vests are U.S.-made and certified through the National Institute of Justice. Vested Interest states on their website that NIJ vests have certified ballistic panels designed to withstand extreme temperatures while keeping a K9 safe. Marcel said the NIJ certification gives the assurance that the vests will stand up to the threat level. Each vest weighs 4.5 pounds. 

South Bend Police and Vested Interest share a united mission: wanting the best protection for their dogs.

“Anything that we can provide our officers, dog or human, to help them do their job better is going to be a win for us,” O’Chap said.

For Marcel, Vested Interest wants a way for dogs to be safer on the job and have the same level of protection as their human partners, she said. The company originated because she’s an animal lover, Marcel said. 

“The dogs not only have a job to do when they’re on duty, but they also are a valued member of the officer’s family,” she said. “They, most times, go home with the officer. Besides being loved in the community, they are very loved by their partners and their families.” 

South Bend Police K9s are work mates and house mates, and when they retire, they’ll live with their family. 

Personalized vests

Teddy’s vest, embroidered with the words “This gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.” is sponsored by John and Molly Shirk of Redmond, Wash. 

Troy’s vest, sponsored by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., will be embroidered with the sentiment “Born to Love-Trained to Serve-Loyal Always.” 

The embroidery option is made available so donors can add a personal touch, so “they could remember someone who was important in their life, whether it was a human, a pet, a fallen officer or a fallen K9,” Marcel said.

Each K9 vest is valued at $1,800 and has a five-year warranty. In total, Vested Interest has provided over 5,597 vests, including to the Elkhart Police Department's 2-year-old Dutch Shepherd, Diego, in November 2023.

Vested Interest is accepting tax-deductible contributions at any amount. A single donation of $985 will sponsor one vest. More donation information can be found on Vested Interest’s website at www.vik9s.org.