�SRT and K9 Units
Somerset-Pulaski County Special Response Team K9s Yhaazwii ( left ) and Chevy ( right ).
Special Response Team tracks down extra protection for K9 units
By Christopher Harris
When you ’ re out in the field as a first responders , things can get hairy sometimes . That ’ s especially true if you ’ re part of a K9 unit .
To help make things a little safer for the animals in their charge , the Somerset- Pulaski County Special Response Team recently applied for and was awarded a “ Healthcare for K9 Heroes ” grant .
The money will benefit SRT ’ s two K9 canines , Chevy and Yhaazwii , in ways that will help both on the job and outside of it .
Major Steve Woods of SRT , who handles the K9 units , noted that they actually got two grants , through Vested Interest in K9s , Inc ., a non-profit organization whose website ( vik9s . org ) bills its mission as being “ to provide bullet and stabprotective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the country .”
The first grant is for those protective
Photo submitted
vests for both the dogs , which come in handy out in the field .
“ Not everybody is happy to see them ,” he said of the risk posed to the dogs . “ Even if you ’ re looking for , say , the explosives , you never know what you ’ re going to run into in those areas , whether it ’ s someone looking to take out the first responders or something else happens .”
The other grant is an annual medical reimbursement insurance policy , administered by pet insurance provider
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