Worcester police dog to receive bulletproof vest

K9 Elmar, the soon-to-be owner of a new protective vest.

One police dog in Worcester will soon receive body armor protection, thanks to a non-profit based out of East Taunton, officials said.

K9 Elmar is expected to receive the bullet- and stab-proof vest in the next eight to 10 weeks, the Worcester Police Department said in a statement. The vest, valued between $1,795 and $2,234, weighs 4 to 5 pounds.

The organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is donating the vest, police said. The group, established in 2009, aims to protect K9 officers with the body armor.

Since its inception, the East Taunton-based non-profit has provided more than 2,000 vests to dogs in all 50 states.