Last year, 8 year-old Ana Gent raised more than one thousand dollars to provide a bullet and stab-proof vest for a West Melbourne police dog.
The second grader was honored this past Thursday for her efforts, which put a protective vest on Baton, Officer Robert Nolan’s dog. Gent has a personal interest in the matter, as her father works for Palm Bay Fire-Rescue.
Gent worked alongside Meadowlane and West Shore Jr./Sr. High students, as well as Ducks Unlimited Conservation Society, Florida Flatsfishing Association and Palm Bay Fire-Rescue to raise the money.
She also held a number of car washes, and offered her community personally designed stickers in exchange for donations for her project.
“I love animals,” Gent explained. “I know when police dogs try to help us, I want them to be safe. I wanted to help them so they wouldn’t get hurt.”
Of West Melbourne’s three police dogs, only one had a protective vest. The equipment costs over $1,000. Commander Steve Wilkinson explained that “It takes a few minutes to put those things on.” He added, “If we know we are going into a dangerous situation, they will take the time to put it on the dog.”
Gent purchased the $1,006 vest with help from the non-profit group Vested Interest in K9s. The organization was originally created for dogs in Massachusetts, by Sandy Marcal, but the program went nationwide less than a year ago. As of 2011, the group has provided 64 dogs with the protective vests.