The Anne Arundel County Sheriff’s Office will be able to get ballistic vests for its K9 officers thanks to a nationwide Groupon event that raised more than $335,000. The Occasions campaign for Groupon Grassroots ran from mid-February to early March and allowed shoppers to buy a $10 online Groupon with all funds going toward providing bullet- and stab-protective vests for dogs. With all the money raised, a nonprofit called Vested Interest in K9s will be able to give 350 law enforcement dogs around the nation the protective vests, campaign organizers said. The project was organized in memory of K-9 Officer Rocco of the Pittsburgh Police Department, who was fatally stabbed in the line of duty in January. All of the vests will be embroidered with the words “In Memory of K9 Rocco, Pittsburgh Police Department.” Each vests costs $950 and has a five-year warranty. There are an estimated 30,000 police dogs throughout the United States. Vested Interest in K9s is still accepting donations, which can be given at vik9s.org or via mail at P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, Mass., 02718. Source: http://baltimore.icito.com/groupon-helps-k9-officers-get-bulletproof-vests/