THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2008

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'Marco' Gets A Vest

The Academy of Dog Grooming Arts will present Arlington Heights Police Canine "Marco," with a bullet and stab resistant vest Saturday, Mar. 15 at 1:30 p.m. at the Chicagoland Family Pet Expo at Arlington Park Racetrack.

Canine Marco, a three-year-old Belgian Malinois and his officer partner, handler James McGrath, graduated from police dog training school Friday, Mar. 7.

According to police, numerous students made this possible by donating their tips to No-Kill animal shelters and Illinois Vest-a-Dog.

Illinois Vest-a-Dog is a non-profit organization that raises funds and coordinates donors to vest police dogs throughout the state. To date, 263 police dogs have been vested, according to police.

"Marco" is the second canine to join the Arlington Heights Police Dept. since the retirement of "Sarge" in 1980. Layka joined in 2007 and was also vested by The Academy of Dog Grooming Arts.

Arlington Heights Officers are awaiting the addition of another working police canine unit, and anticipate the dog will serve as a "valuable asset" to the entire department, and community as a whole. The Police Dept. extends its gratitude to the Academy of Dog Grooming Arts and Illinois Vest-a-Dog for providing the protective vest to their newest officer.