Heather Willard / NewsBreak Denver / Feb. 2, 2023
(Parker, Colo.) A Parker Police Department K9 team will appear in a national calendar to raise money to protect law enforcement dogs.
Officer Eric Graham and K9 Kato were chosen alongside 11 other teams to appear in the 2023 Vested Interest in K9s fundraising calendar. Each year, the calendar showcases 12 law enforcement K9 team vest recipients.
K9 Kato’s vest was provided by the nonprofit, and last year the calendar team asked Graham and Kato to pose. The vests provided by the nonprofit organization are highlighted along with a memorial page paying tribute to the four-legged heroes who have died.
“Officer Graham participated in the calendar as a way to thank Vested Interest for their support of K-9 Kato and K-9 teams around the country,” said Josh Hans, Parker Police Department public information officer.
Graham and Kato have been paired for over five years, starting their partnership in 2017. It’s Graham’s first partner, and together they make up half of the Parker Police Department’s K9 Unit. Kato is certified in drug detection and is a German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix.
Since its founding in 2009, Vested Interest in K9s has provided over 4,948 K9 ballistic vests,
2,300 K9 opioid reversal NARCAN kits, and more than $287,600 K9 medical insurance premiums through the Healthcare for K9 Heroes program, among many other programs.
Contributions, grants and fundraising events like the annual calendar support the Vested Interest in K9s programs.
Buy calendars at vik9s.org or call 508-824-6978 for additional information or to place mail orders.
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