The San Diego Sheriff’s Department has a brand new tool for its K-9 unit. All 30 dogs now have bullet-resistant vests.

"It offers an extra level of protection for the dogs to keep them from getting hurt out there in the field," says San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Jacob Pavlenko.

"When a handler knows they’re going into a situation where they could be confronting an armed subject, that’s where they’ll put the vest on the dog before they deploy," Pavlenko adds.

Since the vest won’t be on the dog all the time, it takes about 10 to 15 seconds to put on. The vests are lightweight, so the K-9 doesn’t get tired while wearing it. Similar to a bullet-resistant vest for a human, it also protects the dog's body and chest.

"These are ballistic vests, they are to defeat bullets. However, they will defeat slashing moves as well," says Georg Olsen from U.S. Armor .

Money for the vests was provided by the Deputy Sheriff’s Association. The organization paid $16,000 for all 30 of the vests, CW6 reports.