Moose Lodge helps police canine get his Kevlar vest

DONNA ALLEN
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — The Springfield Moose Lodge took on a project last year and has finished raising the money for a Kevlar vest for the Springfield Police Department’s new police dog, who recently completed training.

The lodge operated a food booth at the Steampunk Festival in g the  fall, and finished with a fundraiser at the lodge last month.

In all, $1,000 was raised.

The police dog, 2-year-old AJ, is from France and just finished his training at the Police Academy in Pittsford, Vermont. The police handler 

“There are three styles of vest to choose from,” police handler Sgt. Ryan Prince said. 

“The Police Department would like the stab proof vest, which is the most expensive at around $1,200,” he continued. “Now that the money is raised, we will order it.”

AJ has to be measured for the fit. He will model the new vest for the community as soon as it arrives, which will be sometime this summer.

—- Donna Allen