About the Campaign
K9 Irie is a 4-year-old German Shepherd certified in Tracking/Trailing and Disaster Live Finds. She is partnered with Firefighter/Paramedic Michael Vitale of the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods IL Fire Protection District. The team is on the Illinois state urban search and rescue team as a nationally certified live find disaster K9 search team. The fire department, along with several other local fire departments, have developed a K9/Drone Strike Team which responds to missing persons, structural collapses, and other incidents that can benefit an agency with both K9 and Drone capabilities. K9 Irie and Firefighter Vitale have been called out several times by local police and fire departments since the program began. Irie is quite an independent woman and, when at home, loves to relax and curl up with blankets in her kennel.
Here’s how this equipment both helps Irie and Firefighter Vitale on the job:
An in-squad kennel allows the K9 to be safely transported when on the job! It fits securely into the rear seat of the squad and provides roll-cage level protection while a K9 is at work, on the road, and away from home.
A multi-threat vest protects against standard-issue caliber rounds for common guns and offers additional protection for stabbing weapons, like prison shanks or other blunt force puncture objects. The vest is inserted into a carrier made of a rip-stop material that helps to deflect punctures as well. This vest provides the same level of protection that the human counterparts of these K9s are required to wear for their job.
The Ranger K9 Trauma Kit provides sterile, veterinary grade, K9-specific supplies to assist an officer in providing aid to their K9 in the event of an on-the-job incident or injury. This kit includes a canine oxygen mask, along with other first aid items, a quick reference sheet for K9 vitals and dosing, and comes in a heavy-duty, canvas bag that is embroidered with emblems ensuring that it is easily identifiable for K9 use.
NOTE: The funds collected as part of this fundraiser will be allocated to the agency’s Equipment Grant Application with Hero K9 for their K9. Should the application status change and/or if donations received are in excess of the goal amount, donations will be directed to the organization’s general fund to provide additional equipment grants and cover operational costs and/or other business-related expenses.