Police Dog In Genesee County Sports Cooling Vest

ARGENTINE TWP. (WWJ/AP) - This summer's blazing hot temperatures aren't affecting a Genesee County police dog as much as they might have.

That's because Argentine Township K-9 officer "Sirius" is sporting a donated cooling vest.

The vest features gel pack inserts, which keep the black long-haired German Shepherd cool by drawing heat away from his body. The inserts don't overwhelm the dog with cold, like ice would.

Township Police Chief Dan Allen told The Flint Journal the vest is especially helpful, because police dogs get tired and overheated while working intensely on a search.

Unlike humans who have sweat glands all over, canines only have sweat glands on their feet. The main way a dog cools down is by panting and removing excessive heat through their tongues. Dogs also have a higher natural body temperature than humans, at about 102 degrees.

The vest, a gift from Arrowhead Police Emergency Vehicle Equipment LLC of Flint, was custom-fitted for Sirius and fits underneath his body-armor vest.

Steve Major, owner of Arrowhead, said the same type of vest has previously been used by the United States Military's K-9s in Iraq and Afghanistan.

TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.