GREECE, N.Y. — ​Police K9s from across the country are featured in a new calendar fundraiser for a nonprofit organization that provides protective vests to law enforcement dogs.

What You Need To Know

  • Vested Interest in K9s is a nonprofit that provides bullet and stab protective vests to police dogs

  • Since 2009, VIK9s has donated more than 4,150 K9 ballistic vests

  • To order a $15 K9 calendar or donate directly to Vested Interest in K9s, check out VIK9S.org

One of the K9s in the 2021 calendar, and this year's "Mr. September," works for the Greece Police Department.

K9 Ryan is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois and trusted member of the Greece Police Department.

"Ryan is one of the first dogs they’ve actually had in the calendar from New York in a long, long time," said Officer Phillips.

Vested Interest in K9s provides productive vest for K9s across the country. The calendar features breeds of police dogs who have received a protective vest, including K9 Ryan, who is a dual purpose police dog. He specializes in everything from the search for nitrates to locating weapons and explosives. He also does patrol tracking and building searches.

"The dogs are utilized constantly, almost daily, throughout the county multiple times a day for all sorts of activities," said Ofc. Phillips. "Their main job being to keep officers safe. There is no reason to have officers going into a dangerous situation when we have a dog available to help us out. The fact that the dogs are given vests that are donated by this nonprofit organization is to keep them safe when they do these dangerous tasks for a police officer."

All proceeds from the calendar sale will help fund protective gear for K9s across the country. To order a calendar or to donate directly to Vested Interest in K9s, check out VIK9S.org.