Attleboro Police K-9 Maddie will now be protected with a new bullet-proof vest thanks to the generosity of Attleboro resident Bobby Earls. 

Earls, a former K-9 handler for Conrail, donated the vest to Maddie in memory of Scott Andrews, a Fall River resident who was killed in action in Afghanistan. 

Earls worked with Andrews' father Alfred Andrews and remembers the senior Andrews always talking about his children. 

"When Bobby heard about Scott being killed in action it hit him hard," said Kathy Hinds, of Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog, a group in Walpole that provides dogs in law enforcement with bullet-proof vests. 

Providing the vest to Maddie was one way to carry on Andrews memory, Hinds said. "It's especially important to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf," she said. 

Maddie is a special dog and the Attleboro Police Department would not be able to support her without contributions from the community, according to Attleboro K-9 Officer Keith Bussiere. 

"We're so grateful for the community support that makes it possible for Attleboro to have K-9 Maddie: The Barnstable Sheriff's Department for donation of Maddie and narcotics detection training for Maddie and myself, Dr. Siegel and the entire staff of Attleboro Veterinary Clinic provides incredible complimentary treatment for Maddie, Mr. Bamberg of Attleboro's Old Barn supplies Maddie's food and Timothy Henry of Nap's Maintenance Service gives excellent care with complimentary cruiser detailing," said Maddie's handler Officer Keith Bussiere. 

Maddie has proved to be an asset to the force, according to Hinds. "Her first big find was back in September when she found more than a kilo of cocaine with a street value worth $38,000.  

While Earls has helped his own community's K-9, it is not the first time he has donated a much-needed vest to a law enforcement dog. He also donated two to Massachusetts State Police dogs.

K-9 dogs going without a vest is an ongoing concern for groups such as Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog, said Hinds. 

"The human officer vests --there is a federal bullet proof vesting program that provide 50 percent matching dollars for human vest, but there is nothing comparable for our K-9s," Hinds said. "Our police dog programs are financially fragile.

"We are on track to provide 25 vests this year," she said. "Unfortunately over time the vest degrade and a majority of the vests we provided in 2003 are beyond their five-year warranty. Until they come up with grant funding-we are it."