Eight VADOC K-9s given body armor in honor of K-9 stabbed to death protecting handler
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Eight K-9s with the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) will receive donations of body armor, all made in honor of the K-9 Rivan, who was stabbed to death protecting his handler earlier this year. On Friday, Dec. 6, VADOC announced that K-9s Anette, Chulligan, Cody, Hondo, PI, Elvis, Vico and Tosca will receive bullet- and stab-protective vests donated through Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. -- a nonprofit that has benefitted working dogs since 2009. The eight VADOC K-9s receiving body armor in memory of Rivan. (Photo: Virginia Department of Corrections) Each U.S.-made vest has a value of $1,800. Through the nonprofit's sponsorship program, a $985 donation sponsors one vest for one K-9. However, in this case, the nonprofit itself sponsored the vests in honor of a K-9 killed in a Sussex County correctional center in April. Rivan, a German shepherd who was approaching his 6th birthday at the time of his death, worked with corrections officer Kharmishia Phillip-Fields. On Tuesday, April 2, he and Phillip-Fields attempted to stop an altercation between multiple men at the Sussex I State Prison. PREVIOUS: Community honors K-9 killed protecting handler from gang members at Virginia prison According to VADOC, Rivan protected Phillip-Fields, who was not injured. However, Rivan himself was "violently and repeatedly stabbed and kicked by the inmates." He later died. The four men accused of being involved in the violence that ultimately killed Rivan were indicted by a grand jury in June. Two of them -- Ronald Sanchez-Ramirez and Nelson Torres Alvarez -- have a two-day trial set to begin on May 29, 2025. The court proceedings for the other two, Axel Wilfredo Ortiz Garcia and Jose Antonio Sagastume, are still in the preliminary stages.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Eight K-9s with the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) will receive donations of body armor, all made in honor of the K-9 Rivan, who was stabbed to death protecting his handler earlier this year.
On Friday, Dec. 6, VADOC announced that K-9s Anette, Chulligan, Cody, Hondo, PI, Elvis, Vico and Tosca will receive bullet- and stab-protective vests donated through Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. -- a nonprofit that has benefitted working dogs since 2009.
The eight VADOC K-9s receiving body armor in memory of Rivan. (Photo: Virginia Department of Corrections)
Each U.S.-made vest has a value of $1,800. Through the nonprofit's sponsorship program, a $985 donation sponsors one vest for one K-9. However, in this case, the nonprofit itself sponsored the vests in honor of a K-9 killed in a Sussex County correctional center in April.
Rivan, a German shepherd who was approaching his 6th birthday at the time of his death, worked with corrections officer Kharmishia Phillip-Fields. On Tuesday, April 2, he and Phillip-Fields attempted to stop an altercation between multiple men at the Sussex I State Prison.
PREVIOUS: Community honors K-9 killed protecting handler from gang members at Virginia prison
According to VADOC, Rivan protected Phillip-Fields, who was not injured. However, Rivan himself was "violently and repeatedly stabbed and kicked by the inmates." He later died.
The four men accused of being involved in the violence that ultimately killed Rivan were indicted by a grand jury in June.
Two of them -- Ronald Sanchez-Ramirez and Nelson Torres Alvarez -- have a two-day trial set to begin on May 29, 2025. The court proceedings for the other two, Axel Wilfredo Ortiz Garcia and Jose Antonio Sagastume, are still in the preliminary stages.
