By Kim McDarison
Wisconsin Vest-A-Dog — a Janesville-based, nonprofit organization formed to provide a bullet- and stab-proof vest and first aid kit to every police dog in Wisconsin — donated on Monday K-9 first aid kits for use by the Fort Atkinson and Lake Mills police departments.
Group supporter, former Madison K-9 officer, and area dog trainer Rose Mansavage said she delivered the two first aid kits to Officer Adam Lawrence, of the Fort Atkinson Police Department, who was accompanied by the department’s recently sworn in K-9 “Smitty.”
Smitty, a nearly 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, joined the department in July. He and Lawrence began patrolling as a K-9 team in August.
Mansavage, who owns and operates two dog-related businesses, Valkyrie, a dog training facility specializing in obedience and behavior modification, and Laughing Dog Day Care, said she was approached by the Vest-A-Dog organization earlier this year and asked if she would place a donation box for the group in her day care facility.
Monies from the donation box, and others across the state, are used to support the purchase of the kits and vests, she said.
As a supporter, she said, she was asked by the organization to deliver the kits to the K-9 units in Jefferson County.
Laughing Dog Day Care is located in Lake Mills, she said.
Through her training company, she supports clients in Jefferson and Rock counties, she added.
Those interested in supporting the Vest-A-Dog mission of vesting and supplying first aid kits to the state’s K-9s are encouraged to visit the organization’s website: https://wivestadog.org/.
Mansavage said the donation box remains available to receive donations at her day care facility, 200 Enterprise Dr., Lake Mills.
According to the Vest-A-Dog website, there are more than 200 K-9 officers in Wisconsin.
Offering some statistics, the group notes that K-9s help control risk situations, are twice as fast as humans, greatly increase the percentage of lives saved, and decrease the number of officers injured due to risk situations.
The organization also is in need of volunteers, its website states.
Volunteers assist the organization through such activities as working at booths and various fundraising events, locating grant opportunities, creating the organization’s official scrapbook, and providing information within each Wisconsin county, among others.
An earlier story about the arrival of K-9 Smitty as a member of the Fort Atkinson Police Department is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/fort-k-9-takes-oath-of-office-dog-and-handler-to-begin-patrols-in-august/.
K-9 Officer “Smitty” of the Fort Atkinson Police Department greets members of the Fort Atkinson City Council after being sworn in earlier this summer. He is presented by his handler Officer Adam Lawrence. File photo/Ryan Whisner.
Wisconsin Vest-A-Dog supporter Rose Mansavage, at left, presents Fort Atkinson Police Officer Adam Lawrence with two K-9 first aid kits for use by the Fort Atkinson and Lake Mills police departments. Lawrence is accompanied by his K-9 partner “Smitty.” the presentation was made Monday. The kits were purchased through donations collected by the Vest-A-Dog nonprofit group. Contributed photo.
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