MANSFIELD, OH - Two Mansfield Police Department K9 teams will receive bullet and stab-protective vests through Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. after two separate groups decided to donate funds towards the vests.

Students Gracie Dix and Makenna Coontz, of St. Peter's, collected funds through a school and community project. The other party that donated a vest, the Richland County Prosecutor's Office, embroidered a message onto the gifted protective vest. Both vests are expected to be delivered within eight to ten weeks.

The recipients - which are made up of two teams - include K9 Officer Dani and MPD Officer Zachary Miller, as well as K9 Officer Richy and MPD Officer Denny Kiner.

Vested Interest In K9s, Inc. is a charity based out of Massachusetts, whose mission statement is to provide protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. Since 2009, the charity has provided over 3,000 vests to various units through donations, which is estimated to be valued at $5.7 million dollars.