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Date: 11/7/2022
EASTHAMPTON – On Nov. 1, the Easthampton Police Department’s K9 Gino was awarded a Healthcare for K9 Heroes grant.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a nationwide charity located in East Taunton and their mission is providing bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the country.
Easthampton Police Sergeant and K-9 Handler Andrew Beaulieu told Reminder Publishing that Gino was the department’s first official police K9 and has been with the department for five and a half years. He will turn seven years old next month and is a Belgian Malinois from the Czech Republic.
The nonprofit said they were pleased to continue their “Healthcare for K9 Heroes” medical insurance program for 2022, which covers annual policy premiums. Since 2016, the charity has donated over $270,259 toward medical reimbursement programs for self-funded K9 units like the Easthampton Police Department has.
“This grant from Vested Interest in K9s will give us protection needed for Gino in the event he gets injured or ill and needs costly treatment,” Beaulieu said. “We are very fortunate to have our regular veterinary services and food donated by the Easthampton Animal Hospital, but if Gino requires an emergency or specialty care, this grant will assist the department in paying for that.”
Beaulieu added that due to the costliness of veterinary care, their K9 unit could not have been started or even continued if the department had to provide its own funding for these particular services.
According to the press release from the City of Easthampton, the “Healthcare for K9 Heroes” grant is awarded to departments which have the financial burden of raising funds to support their K9 unit, have no more than three K9s and have previously been awarded a vest through Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.
The release also states that the annual medical reimbursement insurance policy is administered by Trupanion and covers illness, injuries – including those sustained in the line of duty – diagnostic testing and therapies. The plan allows the freedom to use any licensed veterinarian, specialty center or emergency hospital in the United States.
“Trupanion, a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs, offers injury and illness coverage for working and service dogs on and off duty. For nearly two decades, Trupanion has given pet owners and working dog owners’ peace of mind so they can focus on their dog’s recovery, not financial stress,” the release said. “Trupanion is honored to support these brave K9 heroes and is committed to providing the highest value in medical insurance to help them receive the best veterinary care.”
In addition to the healthcare reimbursement program, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over $4,845 law enforcement dogs with U.S.-made, custom-fitted, NIJ-certified bullet and stab protective vests in 50 states, at a value of over $6.9 million.
“We would like to thank Vested Interest in K9s for this grant award, providing us with a peace of mind that Gino will receive any treatment needed for his health and wellbeing,” Beaulieu said. “We would also like to thank Easthampton Animal Hospital for their continued support of our program. It is organizations like these that make our K9 Unit possible and successful.”