LAURENS, S.C. — Venol, a working dog with the Laurens Police Department in Laurens County, is getting a new vest built to stop bullets and knife attacks, paid for by a national nonprofit that equips police dogs with body armor.
The donation comes from Vested Interest in K9s, a charity started in 2009. Venol’s vest will be stitched with a tribute to Magnum, a Florence police dog whose end of watch came on Oct. 7, and it is expected to arrive in about 10 weeks.
Magnum, a German shepherd, had been on the Florence force since late 2020. City records show he held certifications in tracking, obedience, finding evidence and sniffing out drugs, and that he helped officers find people wanted for murder and attempted murder. Born in Hungary and shipped to Holland before reaching the United States, he responded to commands given in Dutch.
Since it began, the nonprofit has handed out more than 6,677 vests worth about $6.9 million to police dogs in every state. A gift of $1,050 covers the cost of one vest.
Section: More Clinton SC crime news
Filed under: Clinton SC Public Safety News
