James Wiater of Somerset County is using a portion of proceeds from the sale of his children's book to purchase bullet-proof vests for police dogs and pet oxygen masks for rescue squads and fire departments.
FLEMINGTON - James Wiater is using a portion of proceeds from the sale of his children's book to purchase bullet-proof vests for police dogs and pet oxygen masks for rescue squads and fire departments.
What started as a story about a K-9 officer that Wiater had made up for his daughters, Kaci and Nikki, became "The Adventures of Solo, The Big Dog" after Wiater learned about K-9 Solo, who was killed in the line of duty in Bradley Beach in 1998.
"Back in 1998, after reading the article about the police standoff and how Solo lost his life in the line of duty, I made a promise to myself that one day I would purchase a bullet proof vest for a K-9 officer," Wiater, of Millstone in Somerset County, said while speaking recently at a New Jersey State PBA meeting in Edison.
One vest and two pet oxygen kits have been donated since the book was first published eight months ago. K-9 Edge of the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office received the first vest in January. Wiater is also hoping to purchase K-9 first aid field trauma kits and K-9 cooling vests.
"Many of the members told me that they actually knew Solo or remember the day that he was killed in the line of duty," Wiater said in a Facebook post. "And they were very happy that soon K-9 Edge would be getting a vest and possibly other dogs as well."
Wiater is currently awaiting delivery of two more vests to be donated to the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office and the Carteret Police Department. A pet oxygen kit was also delivered to the Millstone Fire Department.
In addition, a Pet Field Trauma Kit has been ordered for K-9 Ricky of the Willingboro Police Department.
"I'm not only excited about the K-9 officers that we will be helping to protect, but also about the future of the book and the potential we have to help others," Wiater said.
Recently, he donated a pet oxygen mask to K-9 Finn and Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office Det. Edward Pawlick.
Pawlick will use the kit in the event of an emergency for Finn, certified in narcotics and tracking, or any other animal in need of assistance.
"We are very appreciative to Mr. Wiater for his generosity and dedication to the community by provide lifesaving safety equipment to Finn and other K9 officers throughout the state," said Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns, III.