Morris County to host training on K9 lifesaving techniques
Courses Focus on Aiding Dogs Wounded in the Line of Duty
MORRIS COUNTY, NJ – K9 partners are treated like any other partner in law enforcement: they are ready to save the lives of fellow officers, so their fellow officers want to be ready to help them.
Officers from the U.S. Secret Service, New Jersey State Police, local police and sheriff’s departments, as well as other first responders will descend on Morris County next week for a K9 Medical Operator Course on how to care for K9 partners injured in the line of duty. Everything from lifesaving techniques to basic veterinary first aid will be taught to during the two-day sessions at the Morris County Office of Emergency Management.
“When a working K9 goes down in the performance of their law enforcement mission, every second counts in providing life-saving care, and in many environments, veterinary care may not be immediately available at the point of a K9 wounding. This two-day, 16-hour intensive, hands on training is designed for K9 handlers, paramedics, EMTs, tactical medics, and other K9 support members with the medical skills needed to prevent and treat injuries associated with a K9 law enforcement working dog,” said Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon.
The course is being spearheaded by R.A.N.T Strategies, in conjunction with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit and the Morris County Office of Emergency Management’s (OEM) Special Operations Group (SOG). IFAKs, which are individual first-aid kits carried by both K9s and their handlers, are being donated to the program by The Morris Animal Inn, an award-winning and internationally recognized animal shelter with over 60 years of experience in animal care.
The course will be held on March 22 and March 23, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will include a mix of classroom and practical skills. K9 handlers from various departments and agencies will bring their dogs to the class.
“When we deploy as a complete team with our K9 partners, from our SERT (Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team) to our Bomb Team, we recognize that not only are we responsible for the medical intervention of our human team members, but also our K9 dog partners. This high-end and advanced medical training affords us the ability to perform advanced lifesaving skills on our K9 partners,” said Jeffrey Paul, Director of the Morris County OEM and SOG Commander.
The program is important because it allows for the highest level of medical care possible to be immediately available for K9 partners in the field.
