On December 29, 2020, the Memorial Hermann Life Flight launched a helicopter service for police dogs to provide treatment and transportation for injured K-9 officers. The program, ‘K9 Casualty Care Course and Transportation Service‘, is a non-government agency that focuses on caring for injured police dogs. The Memorial Hermann Life Flight has remained passionate about creating a service for K-9s since its establishment back in 1976.
According to Kristin Uhlin, the lead K-9 trainer for Houston Police Department, police dogs are considered partners, especially being amazing creatures that never ask for anything in return for the job. Besides, they can help solve various crimes by tracking suspects, weapons, and even illegal substances. She added that the dog often saves an officer’s life even in taking bullets intended for the officers.
Over the years, there existed a significant difference between K-9s and their handlers. This occurs when officers are severely injured in the line of duty. Officers often board an ambulance or a helicopter to access a hospital for treatment readily. As Uhlin explains, police dogs suffering similar fates are placed on the back of a squad car with sirens and rushed to a veterinarian through heavy traffic.
A helicopter’s introduction tends to change this by allowing police dogs to have an air ambulance to transport injured dogs to Westbury Animal hospital or VERGI 24/7 Animal Emergency and Critical Care Hospital in Houston. Each location has 24-hour access and either a helipad or designated landing zone for Life Flight. Besides, K-9 handlers will also get critical canine care training offered by Memorial Hermann, including CPR and tourniquet use, and get a specialized first aid kit.
Thomas Flanagan from Memorial Hermann stated that it’s the agency’s legacy to discover effective means of providing the best care for police dogs. He added that K-9s are integral for law enforcement, hence strives to meet these creatures’ medical needs through Life Flight. Since the launch of the program in 2019, over 100 K-9 handlers and 40 emergency medical services and fire staff have been motivated to treat their injured dogs.
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Photo Credit: Memorial Hermann