UW- La Crosse freshman Jenna Goulet is a lover of dogs, just like many other people. She currently owns three dogs that are bred for protection work. Because of this, she’s always been aware of the need for bulletproof vests for dogs to protect them in the police force.

However, it wasn’t until she was assigned the project of writing and presenting a persuasive speech in her CST 110 class that she truly saw her opportunity to make a difference and become more involved with her passion of dogs.

“At first, I was just going to set up a GoFundMe and ask my class to donate, but when I contacted Sgt. Jon Wenger, the La Crosse K-9 Unit Supervisor, I realized that I needed to do something more. These dogs are so vital to the police department, yet all too often they aren’t protected as well as they should be,” said Goulet.

Goulet explained how the dogs in the K-9 unit are in dire need of new bulletproof vests, but they come with an expensive price tag: $3,600 total for the three new vests, or $1,200 a piece.

She soon created “Coins for Canines,” a fundraising event that took place on April 23 at Valley View Mall and Texas Roadhouse in Onalaska. A booth was set up alongside the K-9 unit and one of the police squad cars. Volunteers helped to collect donations for the new vests for the dogs.

“At the fundraiser itself, we raised $2,679.89, added to the $931 from our GoFundMe page, bringing the total to be $3,610.89,” said Goulet.

Although the one-day event has concluded, Jenna would like to extend her thanks to everyone that has supported her along the way in organizing and helping plan this event, and she mentioned that this event wouldn’t have been as successful as it was if it weren’t for the numerous support she received from the community.

“While there’s too many to list, the volunteers are really what made this event a success. I also want to thank the La Crosse community in general. The generosity that was displayed really was a testament to the selflessness in this area. I’m definitely proud to go to school here. Lastly, I want to extend a thank you to the La Crosse K-9 units. These teams work tirelessly to keep us safe, and I’m pleased to say that I’ve played a role in the keeping them safe as well,” said Goulet.