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After the riot, Slater retrofitted a human flak jacket for his canine partner. That<br />
prompted orders from fellow canine offi<strong>ce</strong>rs, and soon K9 Storm was in business.<br />
The Slaters spent 11 years perfecting the vest. Quality control was crucial, given<br />
that a poorly sewn seam can inflict crippling lesions on a dog that's on its paws for<br />
12 hours a day. The Intruder is their lightest camera and audio system, weighing<br />
less than seven oun<strong>ce</strong>s.<br />
The vest is not cheap. The Intruder system starts at $20,000. But the Slaters say<br />
they have dozens of preorders. Military working dogs are major investments,<br />
costing up to $50,000 each to purchase and train.<br />
There also are plenty of donors stepping up to help cash-strapped municipalities<br />
buy the vests. Ben Roethlisberger, the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, gave<br />
$250,000 to the Pittsburgh poli<strong>ce</strong> and fire departments for canine armor.<br />
The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which treats<br />
50,000 animals a year, has re<strong>ce</strong>ived a $5,000 grant for dogs at Boston's poli<strong>ce</strong><br />
department from Roethlisberger.<br />
"Suspects pursued by poli<strong>ce</strong> will stab, shoot and kick working dogs," says Brian<br />
Adams, spokesman for the MSPCA-Angell veterinary hospital in Boston. "They are<br />
like any offi<strong>ce</strong>r of the law. We want to protect them."<br />
First Published: November 30, 2009: 1:43 PM ET<br />
https://money.cnn.com/2009/11/24/smallbusiness/k9_storm.fsb/index.htm<br />
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