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Professional K-9 Handlers Are Put to the Test With “Real Life” Emergencies!
Tampa, FL – Deputy Metcalf starts an IV on an “injured” dog, while MPO Middleton uses an 18-gauge needle to relieve another dog’s serious stomach condition, known as bloat. Luckily, time is not critical for these K-9’s. These emergencies have been staged. It’s all part of a program to teach working dog handlers how to respond to a real life K-9 crisis, in the line of duty. After all, many of these dogs have dangerous jobs. And with danger, often comes injury.
Two dozen officers, firefighters, medics, and search and rescue professionals, from across the Bay Area, gathered at Florida Veterinary Specialists in Tampa for “K-9 Down.” They received hands-on training on everything from determining vital signs and oxygen administration, to transport techniques and placement of intravenous catheters. “It’s the first time I had ever started an IV on anything,” says Deputy Don Metcalf of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. “Book learning is great, but being able to have a dog there to perform an IV on, is a great value to me. The veterinarians were very knowledgeable. They gave real life experiences of things they actually see come into the emergency room.”
The “K-9 Down” program was the first of its kind for the area and the material was quite advanced. “The things we learned were well above and beyond the basic first aid we learn in K-9 school,” boasts Metcalf. “Even though the veterinarians were highly educated, they put it into a perspective that I could understand,” adds MPO Kurt Middleton of the Tampa Police Department. Middleton and other participants now feel secure that they could assist in stabilizing a K-9 whenever necessary. Staff Sergeant Michael Hendricks of MacDill Air Force Base is also confident in his new ability. "When deployed, we might only have access to a human medic, so this training can help us guide a medic to save the dog.”
Deputy Metcalf, MPO Middleton and others plan to share the information they learned, with fellow handlers in their departments. Middleton is particularly excited about the future of the program, “I’d love to see some of the guys from my unit go to this! I think it makes dogs safer!”
“K-9 Down” (April 16 & 17, 2005) has been made possible by Florida Veterinary Specialists Charitable Foundation. The foundation is designed to work hand-in-hand with the clinical hospital to support research, education and indigent care. “It is our hope that with continued funding of the FVS charitable foundation, we can provide this course and other valuable resources to the community,” says Dr. Rita Hanel, course organizer.
Units taking part in K-9 Down included: U.S. Navy, U.S Air Force, MacDill Air Force Base, Hillsborough Co. Sheriffs Office, Pinellas Co. Sheriffs Office, Hernando Co. Sheriffs Office, Florida Task Force 4 (Search and Rescue), Temple Terrace Police Dept., Orlando Fire Dept. and St. Pete Beach Fire Dept.
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