MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Canine Cam and his human partner Deputy Jonathan Martin, have been named one of 30 nationwide finalist in the Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. – K9 Law Enforcement sports utility vehicle giveaway.

Canine Cam, and his partner, will complete for public votes to win a new Chevy Tahoe SUV with Police Pursuit package and additional K9 unit customization – a prize worth up to $50,000.

Many of the canine patrol cars currently being used by our canine unit are older, high mileage patrol cars.

Adding a new canine patrol car to our current fleet of canine patrol cars would allow use to replace an aging canine patrol car, and save the taxpayers of Mendocino County valuable, and ever important, tax dollars.

The public is invited to vote once per day for canine Cam and Deputy Martin on the charity's contest page. Public voting runs until 11:59:59 (EST) Oct. 31.

The canine team with the most votes by the end of the contest wins the new Chevy Tahoe SUV.

Votes can be cast at www.vik9s.org/suvgiveaway or by following the link at the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Facebook or on Twitter, @Mendosheriff.

Vested Interest in K9s Inc. is a 501(c)3 charity, located in East Taunton, Ma. Their mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests, and other assistance, to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States.

Many of the canine partners with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office have been awarded, and are currently fitted, with these protective vests.

The nonprofit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor and other services for their four-legged K9 officers and deputies. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s has provided over 3,100 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a value of $5.7 million.