Osage County Sheriff's Office Receives Donated K9 Vests

The Osage County Sheriff's Office has a new piece of equipment for its K9 unit thanks to a donation.

The donation, which comes from Vested Interest In K9s, provides a bullet and stab-proof vest to dogs in law enforcement across the country.

Stella, a K9 on staff at the Osage County Sheriff's Office, qualified for the new equipment which should arrive in 8 to 10 weeks. The sheriff's office had Sergeant Ryan Walker, Stella's partner, figure out what those qualifications were, which included being a full time K9 officer and being at least 20 months old.

The new equipment will allow Stella to be more protected, no matter what part of her job that she does.

"That vest encompasses her whole body, so that she can stand in any position," Sgt. Walker said. "It protects her vital organs from being affected by a bullet or a sharp object."

According to the sheriff's office, Stella performs many jobs for the county such as being a support dog, drug sniffs at schools throughout the district and tracking missing persons.

While Stella won't be wearing the new equipment in every situation, dangerous jobs will require more protection for Stella.

"The time that she would need the vest is if we are tracking a dangerous subject or we are looking for evidence that’s involved in a crime," Sgt. Walker said. "I will have that vest on her just in case somebody chooses to attack us while we are searching for them or that article."

Sgt. Walker said that once the new equipment arrives in a couple of months, Stella will undergo some training to get used to working with the new vest.