Thank-you for Keeping My Partner and Best Friend Safe

Susie, I wanted to take a moment to thank you
and the generous supporters of your mission to
protect police dogs in this extremely dangerous
world we live in.

This past Sunday, 03-11-2012, I responded to
an armed-robbery-in-progress call at an auto
parts store that was one mile from where
I was patrolling. I was the second officer on the
scene. Several other officers began to arrive,
but before we could get a good perimeter
around the building, the suspects got out the
back door. Shadow and I were tasked with
locating one of the suspects that was observed
by another officer running into the woods with
a large gun in his hands. I put shadow's vest on
him and we began our search. Within minutes,
Shadow located and made contact with the
suspect, who began punching and hitting him in
the side and face. The blows to his side were
absorbed by the vest, and I am positive that
without it he would have been injured. We found the gun approximately 10 feet away from where the suspect was found, so this could have ended much worse than it did.

The suspect was taken into custody and charged with interference with a police service animal, which is a felony in this state. When I inspected Shadow's vest, I noticed several scratch marks along the side, which were caused by sharp thorns and thistles that were growing in the woods we were searching. So shadow's vest helped in several ways that night, and I can't thank you enough.

Bottom line, I want to thank you and those that donate for helping keep my partner and best friend safe every day on the streets. If Shadow knew how to talk he would thank you and them also.

K-9 Officer C. Obenland (Texas)

Thanks Is Not Enough

Kaden was involved in the apprehension of a suspect high on methamphedamine that fled into a heavily wooded area on 6/27/09. Kaden located the suspect hiding in brush over 6 feet tall. Kaden engaged then released on command. Upon release he was kicked very hard in the chest. He reengaged without hesitation.

This morning Kaden was taken to his vet to be checked because he yelped very loud when kicked. The vet stated that if not for Kaden's vest he would have been injured very bad. Fortunately, he was only bruised. This vest is literally a life saver. Amy and I are so grateful to you that he came home uninjured. You are the best, Susie.

Capone's Vest

Susie, just wanted you to know I had to send Capone under a house today after an escaped inmate. Capone had his vest on, and it was good because the inmate had a gun. I feel a lot better because Capone has his vest that you got him. Thank You again. 

K-9 Handler 5, Jim F. Mundie (Alabama)   

Another Worthwhile Endeavor

Yep, that's me in the middle sitting behind (and
under!) one very happy K-9 Officer, Rudy. Byerl
and I like to support worthy causes, and this
was one way to do it where we could actually
see the results. In the past we've donated to
many causes, but it's been hard to know if our
well-meant donations actually made it to the
parties they were meant to benefit. Then I
heard about Susie Jean, a local womanwho
has taken on the responsibility of equipping our
GA police dogs with bullet-proof and stab-proof
vests.

Since 2002 when Susie organized her non-profit Vest 'N P.D.P. (Police Dog Protection), she has provided 24 custom-fitted vests to Atlanta area K-9 officersincluding my own city's K-9s, several surrounding cities' K-9 officers, and the dogs who serve Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. I knew I wanted to be a part of her good work, so Byerl and I decided to support these brave, strong, intelligent K-9 officers by providing a vest for the first K-9 officer in an adjoining town to ours, Villa Rica, Georgia.

Rudy is a Belgian Malinois, a breed that is becoming more commonly used as K-9 officers. He resembles a German Shepherd, but has shorter fur. Rudy is extremely socialized, which means he loves meeting people and giving them kisses, but he knows when to switch to his "professional" mode and go to work at the command of his partner and handler, Officer Rick.

Rudy is specially trained as a narcotics officer and even though he's only been with Villa Rica since May of this year, he has already located pounds and kilos of drugs as well as piles of drug-related cash. He has proven himself to be a very valuable asset to the department.

Byerl and I look forward to working with Susie Jean and Vest 'N PDP in providing protective vests for these brave, selfless dogs.

Karen Sawyer
Douglasville, GA