MENOMINEE — A Menominee County Sheriff’s Office K-9 officer will receive a bullet and stab protective vest, thanks to a charitable donation from a non-profit organization dedicated to providing vests to K-9 officers around the country.

According to Menominee County Sheriff’s Office, K-9 Officer Dina will receive a bullet and stab protective vest from Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

Dina’s handler is Deputy Vincent Studer, an eleven-year veteran of the Menominee County Sheriff’s Office.

K-9 Officer Dina’s vest is sponsored by Kelly Kammeraad of Baaj Quality Systems Consulting and will be embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of Sonja, Lead On Shine On.”

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a charity located in East Taunton, Mass.

Its mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States.

The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K-9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 3,700 U.S. made, custom fitted, NIJ certified protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a value of $6.9 million.

The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age.

New K-9 graduates, as well as K-9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

The donation to provide one protective vest for a K-9 is $950. Each vest has a value between $1,744 to $2,283, a five-year warranty and weighs an average of 4 to 5 pounds.

Dina’s vest is expected to be delivered within eight to 10 weeks, the sheriff’s office said.