AUGUSTA — The job of the canine police officer can be a very dangerous one. Dogs used in the military and in law enforcement have been referred to as K9s since the American War Dog program was launched in the 1940s and the Quartermaster Corps established and ran the Army's "K-9 Corps.”

K9s are used to search for drugs, guns, bombs and evidence of crimes, and they are often the first sent in to seek and find  potentially armed criminals. And that’s what makes the K9s’ job so dangerous – their only means of real defense is their teeth, and dogs killed on duty are sometimes shot or stabbed just before or during contact with suspects. Some dogs don’t survive their injuries, but those wearing vests have a better chance.

Just like their two-legged partners, modern K9s are being given protective vests to keep them safe while doing their jobs.

Eight dogs from the Maine State Police Canine Unit have received new protective vests thanks to donations from a Massachusetts charity and a national foundation with a mission to “raise the quality of life for pets and people who love and need them,” according to a press release Monday. The vests, which are bullet and stab proof, will help protect the dogs as they work with their trooper partners around Maine and cost $950 each.

The State Police canine teams receiving the vests this month are:

• Trooper Chris Smith and K9 Winger, who patrol in Washington and Hancock counties.
• Trooper Rick Moody and K9 Foster from Troop C in Skowhegan.
• Trooper Kevin Rooney and K9 Howie from Troop A in York County.
• Trooper Shawn Porter and K9 Myka from Troop D in Augusta.
• Trooper Adam Fillebrown and K9 Aros from Troop B in Gray.
• Trooper Eric Verhille and K9 Clint from Troop D in Augusta.
• Trooper Matthew Williams and K9 Landy from Troop A in York County.
• Sgt. Chad Fuller and K9 Gleni from Troop F in Aroostook County.

The vests were donated thanks to efforts from Vested Interest in K9s Inc. in East Taunton, Mass., which has provided vests to more than 400 police dogs around the country. The Petco Foundation is a major contributor to the charity, with money raised from fundraising events at the company's 1,200 stores around the country, as well as from Petco associates, vendors and corporate contributions. Another contributor to the effort has been former New York Police Officer Madeleine Hamersley, now living in Sorrento. Hamersley, 83, has donated funding to equip a number of dogs around the country, as well as Winger, who patrols near her Maine home. Read Kilo’s Story.

Maine State Police Sgt. Blaine Bronson, who runs the agency’s Canine Unit training program, said in the release that all of Maine State Police's 18 patrol dogs are equipped with protective vests. Bronson said the new vests have gone to patrol dogs recently trained, or veteran dogs whose previous vests have worn out.

The Maine State Police Canine Unit is currently comprised of 25 certified teams. The troopers and their dogs annually respond to about 1,200 calls.

Canine Unit statistics:
• Available 24/7 and respond to many types of calls in all weather conditions.
• Calls for service include tracking lost persons or persons suspected of committing a crime.
• Searching for discarded evidence, both known and unknown.
• Searching for suspects concealed in buildings.
• Locating prohibited narcotics hidden in vehicles, structures and on persons.
• Searching for explosives. Explosive searches are split between actual calls for suspected devices and precautionary searches for dignitaries and VIP's.
• Provide protection for their handlers and deterring ongoing criminal behavior.
• Cadaver teams (Human Remains Detection K9s) hold both an MCJA and an advanced NESPAC certification to detect human remains. Applications include both Land and Water searches. Their capabilities include open area searches, crime scene searches to include building, vehicles, fire scenes and water scenes.
• We also provide a public relations service to Maine citizens by performing demonstrations to exhibit skills and abilities.