Utah-based aeromedical provider Intermountain Life Flight launched a program to provide medical transport for the state's highly-trained public safety animals that require immediate care or are injured in the line of duty.
“Operational K9s are essential to our public service community,” said company director of clinical operations Tammy Bleak. “These animals are involved in EMS, search and rescue, law enforcement, fire rescue, FEMA, narcotics detection, and TSA [operations].”
She explained that training for these dogs can range between $40,000 and $70,000, and when one is injured it represents a loss to the community and the agency involved. Up until now, there was no formal process to help them when they require medical care, Bleak noted.
Designed to serve the entire state of Utah and its roster of nearly 100 service dogs, Intermountain will transport the K9 and its handler to one of several predesignated animal hospitals. “This is analogous to human medicine where a severe trauma victim might be diverted to a Level 1 Trauma hospital rather than transported to a closer or smaller medical facility,” stated Laura McClain, veterinary director for Intermountain’s K9 transport program.
The K9 service—just the third of its kind in the U.S.—was developed in collaboration with local veterinarians, animal hospitals, and public safety agencies. It comes after the West Jordan Police Department lost K9 officer Maya in 2022 when she was shot and killed by a fugitive who was trying to escape apprehension.
“This is a terrific program and a vital resource for our officers and their K9s,” said Kendall Holt, a member of the West Jordan Police Department. “The loss of Maya was an immeasurable pain that we felt from that day, and we are still trying to recover from it.”