Vested interest

The smart, sniffing dogs at the Newport Beach Police Department can

now count on something other than their natural shiny coats for

protection.

On Wednesday, the three-member canine team was outfitted with

bulletproof jackets that are said to shield them from commonly used

ammunition.

No dog in the department has been shot so far, officials said.

One of those $475 vests, manufactured by International Armor, was

donated by Corona del Mar residents Peter and Claire O’Brien through a

nonprofit organization called Vest-a-Dog.

The O’Briens, ardent dog lovers, have donated a vest to the city of

Anaheim and also one to the city of Brea.

“I’ve been a dog owner for most of my life,” Peter O’Brien said. “I

think it’s something every police department must have.”