Girl raises cash for police dog's bulletproof vest

NEW JERSEY (FOX5NY) - Morgan Blann, 7, of Brick, New Jersey, might be small but don't let her size fool you. She has a few more years to go before joining she can join the police department, but she is already helping out in a big way.

For her 7th birthday, Morgan sacrificed the presents and asked her family and friends to donate money to help buy a bulletproof vest for a police dog.

"He's going to get a vest, he's going to be okay and he doesn't have to worry so much about him getting hurt," Morgan said.

Morgan worked with Vested Interest, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit focused on providing bullet- and stab-protective vests for law enforcement dogs throughout the country.

Sgt. Scott Kivet of the Robbinsville Police Department was blown away when he found out his dog, Quori, a 2-year-old lab, would be getting the vest.

"Now we have a bulletproof vest to protect him for every drug arrest, every narcotics investigation, every car stop," Kivet said. "It's a good feeling that there's security. And a 7-year-old made it happen."

"Morgan has always been a kid that wants to help others," said Lauren Blann, Morgan's mother. "She really wants to be a police officer. This is what she wants more than anything."

The protective vests can cost anywhere between $1,700 to $2,200. Morgan raised enough money for not one, but two, and a K-9 medical supply kit for Quori.

"She raised so much money that we actually had extra money where they were able to get a trauma bag for Quori, which is awesome," Kivet said. "It actually says 'Gift by Morgan, be safe and be brave.'"

By looks of it, Quori is grateful Morgan has helped keep her safe. And Quori showed Morgan a thing or two about what it takes to become a K-9 officer. It seems like the start of a great friendship.