Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) K9 Beamer will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Beamer’s vest is sponsored by Fairwood Pet Center, Renton, WA and will be embroidered with the sentiment “Gifted by Fairwood Pet Center”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 3,400 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a value of $5.7 million dollars.

“This life-saving protective vest will help keep Beamer safe as she protects our airport and our passengers,” says Jason Berger, GNV’s K9 Handler (Explosives) and Airport Security Coordinator. “We thank Vested Interest in K9s for making this program available to hard working K9s and Fairwood Pet Center for their generous donation toward our beloved Beamer’s own safety.”

The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

Beamer, a female yellow Labrador retriever, joined the GNV family in April 2018. She and Mr. Berger successfully completed all requirements of the Tripwire Operations Group – Center of Excellence’s Homemade Explosives (HME) and Large Explosives Hide Course March 27-29, 2018. She also received her Certificate of Certification from the American Detective Detection Canine Association on April 13, 2018.

Beamer was named for Todd Beamer, who led a takeover by passengers on United Airlines Flight 93, the fourth plane to go down in the September 11, 2001 attacks in Shanksville, Penn. Mr. Beamer and others are credited with foiling the 9-11 hijackers from crashing the Boeing 757 into what could have been a second target in Washington, D.C., either the Capitol or the White House. Todd Beamer had a 13-minute conversation with a telephone operator. His last words heard by her were, “Let’s Roll.”

Inspired by the story, Jason wished to name the GNV K9 dog after Todd Beamer. GNV sought permission from Todd’s widow, Lisa Beamer, to both name Beamer for her husband, and have “Let’s Roll” embroidered on Beamer’s original K9 vest.

Her response was, “Our family loves dogs and is honored to know that your new bomb-sniffing dog in Gainesville will be named Beamer. We hope the training goes well!”

Beamer’s training did indeed go well. She graduated at the top of her class at Southern Coast K9 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $950.00. Each vest has a value between $1,744 – $2,283 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.

GNV K9 Beamer will receive a special protective vest from Vested Interest in K9s Inc, sponsored by Fairwood Pet Center in Renton, WA. Left to Right: Beamer and her handler, Jason Berger, GNV’s K9 Handler (Explosives) and Airport Security Coordinator (Photo credit: Gainesville Regional Airport)