line, the first on the scene. the most dangerous confrontations. saint paul police k-9 is dead. the k-9 officer died shot and killed the dog. reporter: just last month, the k-9 from sacramento county shot in the chest while chasing a robbery suspect. he survived. it s a headline that officer ed meyers hears all too often. my partner looks out for me. i look out for my partner. reporter: partners that do their job without a crucial life-saving tool, a bulletproof vest. that s where sandy marcel comes in. custom-fitted k-9 vests cost $950. too expensive for most police departments. so sandy, a lifelong animal lover, started vested interest s in k-9s working tirelessly from home to raise the money. the dog goes in first. he s a first responder and deserves to have a vest just like his human partners.