MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Students raise enough money for Bullard's `Vest-A-Dog' project
By Lori Mellinger editor@bullardnews.com

It started with a story and a shared love of animals. Then it turned into a project for a few Bullard seventh graders who want to help one specific dog.

The project, called "Vest a Dog," raised money quietly around Bullard in September, but members finally realized their dreams when they raised the money needed this month..

Shelby Zengerle initially was inspired when she read a story about a K-9 police dog dying.

"The story said if the dog has a bulletproof vest, it probably would have survived," Zengerle said.

So she enlisted the help of her friends Cassie Burton, Lorri Farrow, Ashleigh Barton and Erica Ross. To date, the girls have raised $1040.

Their first goal was $1,000 enough to outfit Axe, Bullard's own K-9.

"We all knew Axe and we wanted to keep him safe," Lorri said.

Back in November, the girls made a plea to the community.

In addition to cold, hard cash, the group needed jars and coffee cans to place around town and business owners who are willing to put the collection points there.

The girls did their research - both with the Bullard Police Department and on the Internet - about costs and possibilities.

Bullard officer Shawn Johnson, Axe's partner, said the station had a vest, but it's too small.

"It was purchased for a different dog," Johnson said. "It just doesn't fit him."

Meanwhile, the rest of Axe's co-workers use their vests as daily work attire.

Johnson and Axe have been partnered since June, shortly after Johnson came to work in Bullard. Johnson was already certified to handle K-9s, so the match was perfect.

Axe is about five years old, and the department acquired him from Lackland Air Force Base.

"He was supposed to be a bomb-sniffing dog," Johnson said. "But he's easily spooked on tile floors, making it impossible for him to sniff out bombs.

"But he's perfect for us."

And the department doesn't want to lose him, either.

"I think it's a great thing," said Bullard Chief Gary Don Lewis, a dog lover himself. "Seeing kids getting involved in a project like this really makes us feel good."

But Coach Dennis Beavers isn't all that surprised.

Beavers any Coach Ryan Tomlin have been teaching leadership classes for the past four years, and Beavers said this is just one of the messages they're sending their students: how to give back to the community.

The girls publicly announced the project during "Red Ribbon" week, a week where educators try to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs and to empower them with the ability to say no.

Ashley said the vests range from $600 to $1,500, but they feel a medium-range vest would adequately protect Axe.

And, the girls said, they may expand the project to other K-9 units - perhaps beginning in Smith County.