Police dog’s death sparks crowdfunding effort

CANTON, Ohio (AP) – Money raised for the care of an Ohio police dog that was shot and later died will fund custom protective vests for five other K-9 officers from the same department.

A 3-year-old Canton police K-9 named Jethro was shot repeatedly while investigating a Jan. 9 break-in at a grocery store. He died the next day.

The Plain Dealer reports a crowdfunding effort raised nearly $32,000, but the clinic that treated the dog didn’t charge the department.

A Massachusetts-based nonprofit group called Vested Interest in K9s Inc. offered to help Canton get ballistic vests for its other police dogs for a reduced price. They’ll cost about $1,050 each, or half the usual price.

The remaining funds that were raised will pay for further care of the department’s dogs.