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4-H�ers take vested interest Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Members of a local 4-H dog club are raising $1,200 to buy bulletproof vests for Medford police dogs, including Tanja, pictured here. The students surrounded Tanja and her partner, K-9 Officer Dave Plummer, Thursday; from left they are Sarah Ballard, Jessica Vaninetti, Rachel Sinner, Rebecca Molzer, Robin Ballard, Sarah Sinner and Jordan Mingus. Effort begins to buy bullet-proof garments for police dogs By Joanna Collins When it comes to protecting Medford�s finest, these dog-loving kids don�t mess around. Thanks to the Cultured K9s 4-H Club, a fundraising drive has started to buy Medford�s police dogs, Tanja and Tiko, bullet-proof vests. Unlike officers, the pups wouldn�t be required to wear the protection all the time. The vests are heavy and hot, so they would be used only in lethal situations. Although it�s never happened here, K9s in other cities have been shot or stabbed. "This is one form of protection we can use to protect them," said Officer Dave Plummer, Tanja�s partner. The leader of the 4-H group, Donna York, compared the vests to a fire extinguisher. "You don�t need to use it very often," said York, "but if you need it, you�re glad it�s there." It all started when the Rogue Valley youths, who train and show their own dogs, learned that Medford�s units didn�t have any vests. They needed a project, so they contacted Plummer and asked what they could do to help. The 4-H group�s decision was finalized when Plummer attended a meeting with his partner,Tanja, and did a demonstration. "They flipped for the dog; they loved her," said York. "They were enthusiastic about wanting to do something to keep Tanja from getting hurt." The kids, who range from fourth to 12th grades, raised $300 from placing donation cans around town and a bottle drive. But the vests are expensive, running from $600 to $650 each. To protect both dogs, they need to raise about $900 more. "The important thing is that we help these kids meet their goal," said Plummer. In addition to another planned bottle drive, the group is looking to the community for help. They are asking for donations to be sent to the Medford Police Association, P.O. Box 772, Medford, OR 97501. Anyone with questions can call York at 772-5544. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA