Help Us Make Every K-9 Safe

Last Updated:

01/18/2008

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q.     HOW MUCH DOES EACH BALLISTIC VEST COST?

A.     THE FUND IS NOW PURCHASING 2 DIFFERENT VESTS. ONE VEST COST $1800.00 DOLLARS.  THE OTHER VEST COST 650.00.  THERE ARE TONS OF DIFFERENT VESTS OUT THERE.  I FIRMLY BELIEVE BOTH VESTS WE OFFER ARE TOP OF THE LINE.  HERE IS A TRUE STORY ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TYPES OF VEST'S. 

THERE WAS A K-9 FROM THE CLEVELAND AREA WHO HAD ONE OF THE CHEAPEST VEST YOU COULD POSSIBLY BUY.  THE OFFICER WAS A GREAT FRIEND OF MINE, AND ONE DAY I ASKED HIM, "WOULD YOU LIKE A VEST FOR YOUR DOG?"  HE KIND OF LAUGHED AND SAID, "NO THANKS."  I THEN ASKED HIM WHY AND HE BEGAN TO TELL ME HIS DOG ALREADY HAD A VEST.  I THEN ASKED, "WHY DON'T I EVER SEE YOU DOG TRAIN OR WORK WITH IT ON?"  HE LAUGHED AGAIN AND SAID, " WELL WHEN MY DOG WEARS IT HE WALKS LIKE A TURTLE, HE WALKS LIKE HE HAS A SHELL ON HIS BACK.  HECK, MY DOG CAN'T EVEN PEE WITH IT ON!"  IT WAS THEN I REALIZED HIS DOG WAS GIVEN ONE OF THOSE CHEAP VESTS.  AND I REALIZED THERE WAS NO CONVINCING THIS OFFICER TO GETTING ANOTHER VEST.  HE LEARNED TO HATE THEM. 

WELL, A FEW MONTHS WENT BY AND I HAD AN OFFICER CALL ME TELLING ME HIS K-9 WAS RETIRED, AND I COULD HAVE THE VEST BACK THAT I HAD DONATED TO HIS DOG A FEW MONTHS EARLIER.  I TOOK THAT VEST TO THIS CLEVELAND AREA OFFICER, AND SAID HERE TRY THIS REAL QUICK AND SEE HOW YOUR DOG ADAPTS TO IT.  WE PUT THE VEST ON HIS DOG AND HIS DOG COULD PEE!  HE COULD JUMP THE HURDLES AND RUN FOR THE BALL.  THE OFFICER WAS THEN CONVINCED THAT NOT ALL THE VESTS WERE BAD.  I COULD TELL THE OFFICER LIKED THE VEST VERY MUCH, SO I TOLD HIM TO KEEP THE VEST.  HE SAID HE WOULD WORK HIS DOG IN IT AND SEE HOW IT WORKS IN THE LONG RUN.  WELL, HIS DOG LIKED IT ENOUGH THAT HE KEPT IT AND EVEN GAVE ME HIS OLD CHEAP VEST. 

NOW HIS DOG WEARS THE VEST JUST ABOUT EVERYDAY, AND HE EVEN HAS BITTEN A FEW BAD GUYS WITH IT ON.  THE OFFICER EVEN TOLD ME THAT HIS DOG SITS BY THE VESTS EVERYDAY BEFORE HIS SHIFT WAITING FOR THE VEST TO BE PUT ON HIM.

AS FOR THE CHEAP VEST HE GAVE ME IN RETURN, I COULDN'T EVEN GIVE IT AWAY NOR DID I WANT TO.  I NOW USE IT AT MY EVENTS AS A DISPLAY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM. 

Q.     HOW DO I RAISE THE MONEY TO SUPPLY THE VESTS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT?

A.     THE H.U.M.E.S. FUND HAS A VARIETY OF FUNDRAISERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO HELP RAISE THE MONEY.  INCLUDING SCHOOL'S AND PRIVATE BUSINESS'S.  WE ALSO GO OUT TO SEVERAL PET EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF OHIO, AND HAVE A BOOTH SET-UP TO HELP WITH RAISING THE MONEY. 

Q.     WHAT DOES THE OFFICER/DEPT HAVE TO DO TO GET A VEST?

A.     THE H.U.M.E.S. FUND HAS A GRANT THAT THE OFFICER HAS TO FILL OUT AND MAIL TO ME, ONCE HE GETS APPROVED THE MONEY BEGINS TO BE RAISED FOR THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED. 

Q.     HOW MUCH MONEY HAS THE H.U.M.E.S. FUND RAISED SINCE 2004?

A.     THIS FUND HAS RAISED OVER $30,000.00 DOLLARS

   The H.U.M.E.S. Fund Supports our Troops