Anderson Cooper Donates Lifesaving Vests For ALL K9 Members Of A Virginia Police Department

January 15, 2016

On Monday January 11, 2016 the Norfolk, Virginia police department lost one of its bravest members, a K9 named Krijger. The four-year-old Belgian Malinois died during a shootout after officers responded to a domestic violence call.

Krijger may have survived if he was wearing a ballistic vest.

anderson cooper donates k9 bullet proof vests

These vests are very expensive, each one costing roughly $2,200, and most police departments cannot afford them. But, thanks to Anderson Cooper, every single dog in the Norfolk PD is about to get one.

anderson cooper donates k9 bullet proof vests
via Spike's K9 Fund

The CNN news anchor donated the funds via the Virginia based charity Spike's K9 Fund. Cooper had previously interviewed the charity's founder, retired SEAL Jimmy Hatch, in 2015 and the two have stayed in contact.

The police department posted this on Facebook:

We are at a loss for words. Following the passing of K-9 Krijger earlier this week, CNN's Anderson Cooper has donated enough money to get a vest for every K9 at the Norfolk PD. Truly amazing.

Posted by Hampton Police on Thursday, January 14, 2016

If you would like to help other canine officers obtain a lifesaving ballistic vest, you can donate funds via Spike's K9 Fund.

(h/t) BarkPost.