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Anderson Cooper Pays to Protect Entire Police Department’s K9 Unit

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A picture of a dog and a man in a suit, representing the Police Department's K9 Unit as they protect and serve.

Thanks to Anderson Cooper, a Norfolk, Virg. police department just got gifted protective wear for all the K9s on its team.

The donation happened after a heartbreaking incident occurred last Monday. The police department responded to an incident in which a man had barricaded himself in his home, while holding his wife hostage. After seven hours, the man came out of the home but refused to listen to police orders to drop his gun. The man opened fire and fatally shot the Norfolk police dog named Krijger.

Related: Police Dog Fights Off Bad Guys, Saves Cop’s Life

Sources told The Virginian Pilot the dog would have likely survived if he had been wearing a Kevlar vest, similar to those used by military dogs.

Spike’s K9 Fund, an organization dedicated to helping military and police dogs, decided to launch a campaign in Krijger’s name to help the police department raise funds to equip their remaining dogs with Kevlar vests. It wasn’t going to be an easy fundraiser: the cost of each vest is $2,200 and the number of K9s on the unit was 18.

Related: Police Dog Among Fallen Heroes in Paris Tragedy

But then Anderson Cooper caught wind on the initiative, he decided to cover the ENTIRE cost. Cooper had interviewed Spike’s K9 Fund’s founder Jimmy Hatch, a retired SEAL and former military dog handler, back in 2009 and kept in touch. After Cooper saw a social-media post about the campaign, he decided to donate his speaking fee for his upcoming “Norfolk forum” lecture at Chrysler Hall and use it to purchase the vests.

Image via Spike's K9 Fund

While exactly how much Cooper donated wasn’t provided, his donation did cover the cost of the 18 vests and there were funds left over to provide other departments K9 vests.

Cooper wasn’t keen on the publicity but Hatch wasn’t having it, telling the outlet, “I told him I was going to do it anyway. He’s such a good dude. And genuine.”

Related: Pit Bull to Join New York Police Force’s K9 Unit

Via Spike’s K9 Fund, Wikimedia Commons and Pilot News

By Andrea Huspeni

Andrea Huspeni is the founder and CEO of This Dog's Life. Her mission it to help dogs live a happier, healthier and longer life. When she isn't working, she spends time with her two dogs, Lola and Milo. She resides in Brooklyn, NY.

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