Girl's best friend. (Short Stuff).

Police dogs--they put their lives at stake every day for our safety. And that's why Emily Schultheis, 13, started Protect Our Pups, a campaign to raise money so police dogs can wear bullet-proof vests. After Emily's cat died two years ago, she was inspired to honor his memory by helping the crime-fighting canines in her hometown of Alameda, Calif. "It's so important to protect the dogs because they help our community," says Emily. "They are part of the police officers' families and even go home with them." Emily organized a school assembly with a K-9 police dog demonstration and, with support from the student council, raised $5,000 through donation boxes at pet stores and vet offices. The K-9 unit acquired custom-made bullet-proof vests for all its police dogs. "Now, the dogs are always safe when the police have an emergency or search a building," says Emily. Woof! Woof!