San Luis Police Canine Zaza has been working with the department since 2010. Zaza is an eight (8) year old Belgium Shepherd, who enjoys juke toys and chasing tennis ballsZaza was the second Police Service Dog (PSD) to work for the San Luis Police Department’s Canine Unit. Prior to working as a full time dual purpose PSD, Zaza underwent numerous hours of rigorous police dog training, including narcotic/illicit drug detection and apprehension work. Zaza is also trained in locating fleeing fugitives and at the same time keep the community safe from these dangerous felons.
Over the years Zaza has worked in helping keep the City of San Luis Arizona streets safe and clean from harmful substances that damage our community.
Zaza is highly obedient and handled by her Trainer Officer Galvan. Both Zaza and Officer Galvan enjoy doing school presentations which allows students from all ages to know what a PSD does and also take part in those canine presentations.
One of Zaza’s exceptional performance seized in recent years was seizing over $200,000 dollars in cash. Zaza was also credited with helping locate approximately 12 pounds of cocaine and methamphetamine.
ZAZA’s MESSAGE:
Stay in School & say NO to drugs!
San Luis Police Department’s Canine Zaza has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. Canine Zaza’s vest is sponsored by an Anonymous Donor and embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc”.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 2,400 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 2.1 million dollars.
The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New canines graduates, as well as canines with expired vests, are eligible to participate.
The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement canine is $1,050.00. Each vest has a value between $1,795 – $2,234 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement canines throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.
