A love of animals, one incredible idea and 18 dogs were all the inspiration that five local children needed to start their own charity.

Last spring, five Indianapolis children started Kids for K-9s to raise money to buy bulletproof vests for the Indianapolis Police Department's K-9 unit.

"I brought up (the idea) from the book 'Chicken Soup for the Soul,' " said Jenny Schaefer, 11. "I just thought it was really helpful to do that."

Jenny proposed her idea to the other children at her mother's home child care on the Southwestside. Soon, four of her friends joined Kids for K-9s.

Besides Jenny, Y-Press interviewed members Kimi Wood, 8, Alexis Schaefer, 7, Katie Marshall, 11, and Brian Daugherty, 8, to see how they got started and what they have learned.

The children were inspired by a California girl who was collecting money to buy vests for the police dogs in her state. They investigated and found that the Indianapolis Police Department has 22 dogs, but only four have bulletproof vests. They didn't think that was right.

"Some dogs go in, and some people have guns, and they shoot or stab them, and we don't want the dogs to die. They save us, so we need to protect them since they protect us," Alexis said.

Kids for K-9s set a goal of raising $8,550 to buy 18 more vests for IPD's dogs. Throughout the summer, they held car washes and collected donations from area businesses.

"We have car washes at a different Papa John's (pizza place) every Saturday," Brian explained.

They agreed the car washes were a lot of fun. "Last time I went out there," Kimi said, "I was holding up a sign, and I got five or six cars in to wash."

The group also decorated dozens of donation boxes with colorful wrapping paper and put them in various businesses.

"We make the boxes, and we drop them off at gas stations and stores, and every Saturday we go and pick them up," Brian said. "Then we roll (the coins), and then we put them in the bag, and then we send them to our bank, and that's how we get all of our money."

The youngsters were involved in all aspects of the fund-raiser, but they needed a little help.

"The grown-ups drive us, and we go in and pick up the boxes," Jenny said.

One of the most charitable local businesses for Kids for K-9s is Papa John's.

Besides allowing them to hold car washes, "every Wednesday is Papa John's pizza night, and whenever somebody orders pizza on Wednesday, if they mention Kids for K-9s, (Papa John's) donates $2 to us," Brian said.

The children also received a large check from the Iams pet food company after Iams learned about Kids for K-9s when the five organizers appeared on Fox News.

"What was rewarding to me was when I got the $1,000 check," Jenny said. "They gave it to us, along with the hats and pins."

The group received support from peers as well.

"Like our friends and cousins, we volunteer them if they want to come and help at the car washes," Brian said.

The car washes were popular with many of their friends.

"They said, 'Oh cool, can I help?' and they said, 'Could you ask if I can help through car washes?' " said Katie.

But fund raising was not always easy. They encountered businesses that denied them permission to set up donation boxes, or said they could not because "they're owned by corporate," Alexis said.

The fund raising continued throughout the summer and only stopped because school interfered. They ended up with $5,336 and bought 11 bulletproof vests, which they presented to the K-9 officers.

They are proud of their efforts. "More dogs will have vests, and they'll be able to save us without killing themselves," Katie said.

Through their community service, the Kids for K-9s have become aware of the positive influence they can have.

"I feel like a better person because I helped the police," Jenny said.

"It makes me feel better because I'm actually doing something for someone else," Katie said. "Before I did this, I loved animals, and now since I've been in this, I've been thinking more about dogs."

Alexis said the Kids for K-9s feel better about themselves "because we know that we have helped the dogs and they can save us."

REPORTER: Brandon Satterwhite, 12.