Wareham's K-9 crime-fighting units are getting new uniforms - and extra protection - thanks to local businesses and the nonprofit MA Vest-a-Dog. The organization, whose Massachusetts chapter was started in Barnstable by resident Lisa Hinds, provides specially-fitted protective vests for police dogs.

Wareham Police dog ‘Cago' was vested at the Swan Festival on Saturday, and his fellow K-9 crime fighter, Rolf, will next be outfitted with a bullet-proof vest next, after the organization raised $538 dollars in donations at Saturday's Swan Festival.

Even though dogs can be finicky about certain accessories,  "He seems to be adjusting to it well," said Cago's handler, K-9 Officer Joseph Cardoza. just like any tool we have for them, he'll adjust to it."

To raise the remaining funds - each vest costs about $750 - she is partnering with Traci Medeiros, who is collecting donations for the dogs in her thrift store Gallery Consignment, and Christina Kunze from Eye of the Goddess pottery studio who will be selling paw-print pendants.

The organization started when Hinds, then 11-years old, read an article in American Girl magazine about the Vest-a-Dog in San Diego.  She decided to outfit the Barnstable police dogs.

"I said to her, ‘you can't even keep your room clean, why would you want to vest a dog?'" Kathy Hinds, Lisa's mother, said.

But Kathy and her daughter became hooked on the idea and contacted Massachusetts State Police Sargeant Robert McCarthy and his K-9 partner Thor to help raise awareness for the program.

Since then the organization has vested over 260 dogs, said Board Member Diane Whittaker. Each vest is custom-fitted, according to five measurements and can protect dogs from bullets and stab wounds, as well as from the rigors of daily crime-fighting. When Whittaker, a Wareham resident and certified veterinary technician at New England Animal Medical Center in West Bridgewater, heard that Wareham was getting two new police dogs, she decided to try and get them the vests.

An average of two police dogs are seriously injured or killed while in the line of duty each year in the United States, Whittaker estimated. While the more sensational incidents with dogs attract coverage, the vests also protect the dogs in more routine uses.

"It most commonly helps protect the dogs while they are tracking, keeping their bellies from getting scratched" said organization President Dr. Drew Brodsky.

"These are effective crime-fighting units," said Whittaker. "We should really take care of them."

Officer Cardoza echoed her sentiments.

"Just like us [human officers], a dog should be protected also."