K-9 dog police vests in Ozark
 

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pic i took of youri while he stayed with us at vets office

K-9 dog police vests in Ozark
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers


http://www.dothaneagle.com/gulfcoast...4-04-0016.html



By Ebony Horton
E-mail
OZARK — Seven-year-old Yuori never chose to be a hero. He never asked to work patrol, or to sniff out drugs. He never told anyone he wanted to investigate for a living, or that he wanted to wear an Ozark Police Department badge.


But someone, that being nursing student Jessica Way of Ozark, asked residents like 4-year-old Torie Player on Friday to make a choice for Yuori’s safety. Torie was one of the first to carefully drop a few coins into a miniature black, white and blue dog house Way made to raise money to buy at least two $840 bullet, stab and blunt-force trauma-proof police vests for K-9 dogs used by the Ozark Police Department and the Dale County Sheriff’s Office.
Way said Torie’s coins will go toward purchasing the first vest for Yuori, Ozark Police Commander J.C. Culbreath’s Belgian Malinois who works several undercover narcotics investigations.


As of Thursday, local residents and people who had heard of Way’s mission, some from as far away as Oregon, had donated $300.
"Anytime you look into a dog’s eyes it’s like they’re always asking what you need, always wondering how they can help you. Our police dogs don’t have a choice and don’t question their job assignments, but we can choose to help them by purchasing these vests," Way said as residents passed by to donate money.


Way said she was thumbing through BARK Magazine over spring break two weeks ago when she saw the vests and started her research. At least one dog in every state wears a vest in the line of duty, she said.


She went to the Ozark Police Department for permission to raise the money, and from there put out the miniature dog houses at the Ozark department and veterinarian offices.
"The first time we sat in front of Wal-Mart I almost didn’t come because I thought people would think I was crazy and run me out of town," Way said. "(But) I got such an amazing response from people who wanted to help."


Way said she started raising the money two weeks ago, when she and her husband raffled an I-Pod they purchased with their own money for donations of $5 or more.
Her efforts were acknowledged by both departments she sought to help.
"It’s just amazing when someone knows the good that you’re doing and they want to help out any way they can," said Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson. The sheriff’s department has two patrol dogs: Barry, a Belgian Malinois, and Bryant, a bloodhound.


Culbreath said Yuori has worked with him for two months. Yuori would wear the police vest during most investigations, Culbreath said.
"You have a solid majority, the part of the public that appreciates what we do and wants to help," Culbreath said. "So we’re definitely grateful for what Jessica is doing."




come on now people youri deserves protection also!!
he staye dwith us baording for at least 3 months as his handler got fired then the man who had the other one k9 dog left him outside during a thunderstorm which he had major anxiety issues with and would freak out he strangled himself! anyways they gave youri to that same man for some unknown reason i haven't seen him for about a month we do miss him being there but all hope he is safe!

My husband and I are both deputies for our local sheriffs dept. and all of the dogs there have their own vests! And I think they should if they are going to be out there doing what we do....they need to be as protected as well! Great post!

i gave i didnt know it was for youri im going to see if we can put something up where we work at for this . also theres alot of mispellling in my above post youch!