BRASELTON, Ga. - GeorgiaChron -- Project Paws Alive (PPAK9), a nationwide 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2012, provides free K9 protective equipment to police departments and first responder agencies across all 50 states. The organization supplies NIJ- and NIPS-certified bullet- and stab-protective vests, K9 first aid field trauma kits, NARCAN kits, animal oxygen mask kits, and vehicle heat alarm systems to qualifying Law Enforcement, Fire, Search and Rescue, and Military K9 units at no cost to the requesting agency.

PPAK9 is the only nonprofit in the United States that provides protective K9 equipment across all four major first responder disciplines. The organization currently has more than 400 agencies on its national equipment waiting list, reflecting widespread budget shortfalls that leave working K9 units without lifesaving gear.

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Equipment provided at no cost includes: NIJ- and NIPS-certified ballistic vests valued at approximately $1,400 each; K9 first aid field trauma kits at $435.99 each; K9 NARCAN kits at $160 each; pet oxygen mask kits at $150 each; and vehicle heat alarm systems with auto-deployment technology at $3,000 to $6,000 each.

"Most law enforcement and first responder agencies simply do not have the budget to properly equip their K9 units," said Karen Caprio, VP and Co-Founder of Project Paws Alive. "PPAK9 exists to make sure no K9 goes unprotected because their department could not afford the gear."

Project Paws Alive (PPAK9) is a nationwide 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2012, headquartered in Braselton, Georgia. PPAK9 provides vital K9 protective equipment to underfunded Law Enforcement, Fire, Search and Rescue, and Military K9 units throughout the United States at no cost to qualifying agencies. All equipment is NIJ- and NIPS-certified. PPAK9 holds GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, top 1% of US nonprofits. EIN: 46-0874586. Apply or donate at https://ppak9.org/